Might Different Countries Follow Australia's in Restricting Social Media for Youth Under Sixteen?

Australia's decisive action to ban social media access for those under 16 is creating waves around the globe. Officials, safety advocates, and families are watching closely to see if this tactic will become a template for the rest of the world.

The European Movement

Throughout Europe, a rising group of countries are considering parallel measures.

• Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM declaring that phones and apps are "taking away our kids' childhood". The policy is expected to be enacted in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is planning to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to protect children from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• Ireland is developing a digital ID system to authenticate the identity and age of social media participants. Officials have stated that an similar ban is "a potential options in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has called on the legislature to enact a law lifting the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has recommended a similar step, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has urged parents to prevent their kids from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has adopted a symbolic statement supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 unless guardian approval is provided. While it warns of the "addictive" quality of these services, the move does not create binding law.

"An effective age barrier is a solid first step," stated one MEP supporting the resolution.

The United Kingdom: A Watchful Approach

Across Britain, the government has not ruled out a future ban, emphasizing that "nothing is discarded" but maintaining any decision must be "supported by robust research".

Previously, interest built behind a legislative effort to enact limits on social media use by minors, but it was in the end weakened. However, the government committed to conduct more studies the matter.

Campaign organizations have voiced apprehensions. An organization established by the family of a girl who died after viewing disturbing social media material suggests that a blanket age ban may not improve online safety and could result in a "cliff edge" of risk when young people reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the inability of the tech sector to create platforms and apps that are appropriate and fit for minors," commented a prominent child protection advocate.

The US: A Fragmented Landscape

Across America, action is mostly happening at the state level due to national gridlock.

• Utah mandates adult approval for under-18s to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has passed a law prohibiting those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a regulation capping minors to a single hour of social media use per day, with additional access needing parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly enacted laws mandating adult authorization for minors to set up social media profiles.

Despite bipartisan support and proposals from various individuals to mimic the Australian lead, a US-wide ban is currently seen as improbable.

International Views

Outside of the West, additional states are similarly exploring options.

• Malaysia intends to restrict social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
• Brazil has lifted the access age for one major platform to 16.

Yet, global bodies take a more measured tone. A major UN agency has advised that age-based restrictions carry risks and "could have unintended consequences". The body notes that online platforms can be a "critical link" for marginalized young people and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to improve safety.

Even as this global discussion unfolds, the actions of Australia and its followers demonstrate that policymakers around the world are no longer content to delay for the industry to make changes on their own.