Australia's bold action to ban social networking access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves internationally. Politicians, safety advocates, and guardians are watching intently to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for countries abroad.
The European Movement
Throughout Europe, a rising group of countries are considering similar measures.
- The Danish government plans a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the PM arguing that phones and networks are "taking away our kids' youth". The policy is expected to be passed in the coming year.
- The Norwegian government is preparing to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to protect young people from the "influence of the AI".
- Ireland is introducing a digital wallet to verify the age and identity of social media participants. Officials have suggested that an Australian-model ban could be "one of the tools on the table".
- In The Spanish government, the prime minister has called on parliament to approve a proposal lifting the legal age for joining social media to 16.
- In The French government, the head of state has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has endorsed a comparable move, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
- The government in The Netherlands has recommended parents to block their kids from social media before 15.
At the EU level, the EU parliament has approved a advisory motion demanding a ban for under-16s except if parental consent is provided. Even though it highlights of the "habit-forming" design of these platforms, the resolution does not enact binding law.
"A clear age limit is a solid foundation," said a leading parliamentarian behind the measure.
The UK: A Watchful Approach
In the UK, the leadership has not ruled out a future ban, emphasizing that "nothing is discarded" but maintaining any policy must be "based on strong evidence".
Last year, momentum grew behind a bill to enact controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately modified. However, the government vowed to further research the topic.
Campaign organizations have raised apprehensions. One foundation set up by the loved ones of a young person who died after viewing harmful social media material contends that a blanket age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could lead to a "cliff edge" of risk when young people turn 16.
"This ban is a response to the inability of the Silicon Valley to design products and services that are secure and fit for young users," commented a influential online safety campaigner.
The United States: A Decentralized Approach
Stateside, legislation is mostly occurring at the regional level due to country-wide inaction.
- The state of Utah requires adult approval for under-18s to use social media and limits nighttime use.
- Florida has enacted a measure barring those below 14 from joining social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
- The state of Virginia has approved a rule restricting minors to a single hour of social media access per day, with extra use requiring adult consent.
- The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed measures requiring adult authorization for under-16s to open social media presences.
Despite cross-party agreement and proposals from various politicians to copy this path, a US-wide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.
Worldwide Outlook
Outside of these regions, additional states are similarly considering moves.
- The Malaysian government intends to restrict social media for teenagers effective next year.
- Brazil has lifted the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.
But, global bodies adopt a more cautious position. A major UN agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even backfire". The body notes that social networks can be a "critical link" for marginalized children and that government action should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to invest in safety.
While this international debate continues, the actions of this nation and others indicate that states globally are no longer content to delay for the industry to make changes on their own.
