The Australian decisive policy to restrict social media access for those under 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Lawmakers, campaigners, and parents are observing with great interest to see if this strategy will become a template for other nations.
European Trend
Across Europe, a growing number of countries are considering similar measures.
- Denmark has stated a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader arguing that phones and platforms are "stealing our youngsters' innocence". The policy could be passed next year.
- Norway is set to implement a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard children from the "manipulative force of the AI".
- Ireland is working on a digital ID system to authenticate the identity and age of social media users. The media minister have suggested that an Australia-style ban remains "a potential options under consideration".
- In Spain, the president has asked lawmakers to enact a proposal raising the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
- In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has recommended a comparable move, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
- The government in The Dutch government has recommended families to block their children from social media up to the age of 15.
At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has adopted a non-binding motion supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 without a parent decides otherwise is granted. While it cautions of the "addictive" quality of these services, the move does not establish binding law.
"A clear age limit is a useful first step," stated a leading MEP driving the measure.
Britain: An Evidence-Based Approach
For the United Kingdom, the leadership has remained open to a possible ban, stating that "no option is discarded" but maintaining any policy must be "grounded in robust research".
Previously, support grew behind a bill to introduce restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end weakened. However, the administration pledged to investigate the topic.
Campaign organizations have raised apprehensions. A prominent charity set up by the relatives of a teenager who took her own life after encountering dangerous social media material contends that a simple age ban might not protect children and could create a "sudden drop-off" of risk when teens become eligible.
"Australia's ban is a reaction to the refusal of the social media companies to create products and services that are safe and fit for young users," said a leading child protection advocate.
The US: A State-by-State Landscape
Stateside, regulation is largely happening at the regional government level against a backdrop of federal gridlock.
- The state of Utah mandates parental consent for under-18s to use social media and controls nighttime use.
- Florida has signed a bill banning children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
- The state of Virginia has enacted a law limiting teenagers to one hour of social media time per day, with any further access dependent on parental permission.
- The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed measures demanding parental consent for teenagers to open social media profiles.
Despite cross-party agreement and calls from various figures to copy Australia's lead, a federal ban is presently seen as unlikely.
Global Perspectives
Outside of the West, further states are also taking action.
- Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
- Brazil has lifted the required age for one major platform to 16.
However, international organizations strike a more nuanced stance. A major UN agency has advised that social media bans carry risks and "could backfire". The agency highlights that the internet can be a "vital connection" for marginalized youth and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to prioritize safety.
As this international conversation continues, the steps of Australia and others demonstrate that states around the world are no longer content to wait for the industry to self-regulate.
