🔗 Share this article

The nation's decisive policy to restrict social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves around the globe. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and guardians are monitoring intently to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for other nations.

Across Europe Trend

Across Europe, a growing chorus of nations are considering similar bans.

• Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the PM arguing that phones and apps are "stealing our kids' youth". A law is expected to be formalized soon.
• Norway is planning to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to shield young people from the "power of the AI".
• The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to authenticate the identity and age of social media account holders. The media minister have stated that an Australia-style ban remains "one of the tools on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged the legislature to enact a proposal lifting the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has recommended a comparable action, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The administration in the Netherlands has urged families to block their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has approved a non-binding motion supporting a ban for under-16s without parental consent is given. While it warns of the "addictive" nature of these platforms, the resolution does not enact enforceable legislation.

"A strong age restriction is a good first step," stated the European lawmaker driving the initiative.

The UK: A Cautious Stance

Across Britain, the administration has kept open a potential ban, emphasizing that "nothing is off the table" but maintaining any policy must be "based on strong data".

Last year, momentum grew behind a proposal to introduce controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end weakened. Instead, the government pledged to conduct more studies the issue.

Campaign organizations have raised warnings. A prominent charity set up by the relatives of a teenager who died after encountering disturbing platform posts contends that a strict age ban might not protect children and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of harm when teens reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a response to the failure of the Silicon Valley to build platforms and apps that are secure and suitable for children," said a influential online safety campaigner.

The United States: A State-by-State Approach

In the United States, regulation is mostly unfolding at the state government level due to federal inaction.

• The state of Utah mandates guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and controls late-night use.
• Florida has passed a bill prohibiting those below 14 from joining social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a rule capping minors to a single hour of social media time per day, with any further access requiring parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed measures requiring adult authorization for teenagers to create social media presences.

Even with cross-party agreement and calls from various individuals to copy Australia's path, a nationwide ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Views

Beyond Europe and the US, additional states are similarly exploring options.

• Malaysia intends to restrict social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has increased the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, global bodies take a more cautious tone. Unicef has cautioned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "might prove counterproductive". The agency highlights that social networks can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable children and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to improve safety.

Even as this international debate continues, the steps of Australia and others demonstrate that governments internationally are less and less prepared to wait for tech companies to self-regulate.