🔗 Share this article

The nation's decisive policy to prohibit social networking access for those under 16 is creating waves worldwide. Officials, campaigners, and families are monitoring closely to see if this approach will inspire imitation for other nations.

The European Movement

Across Europe, a growing chorus of countries are exploring comparable bans.

• The Danish government has stated a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the leader arguing that mobile devices and networks are "taking away our children's childhood". A law is expected to be enacted soon.
• Norway is set to enforce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to shield young people from the "power of the algorithms".
• Ireland is working on a digital ID system to verify the user details of social media participants. Officials have stated that an similar ban could be "an options under consideration".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged lawmakers to approve a proposal lifting the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a comparable move, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has advised guardians to block their children from social media up to the age of 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has adopted a non-binding resolution supporting a ban for minors except if guardian approval is provided. Although it highlights of the "compulsive" quality of these apps, the resolution does not enact mandatory rules.

"A strong age restriction is a good starting point," said a leading European lawmaker driving the measure.

Britain: A Watchful Approach

Across Britain, the government has kept open a future ban, arguing that "nothing is discarded" but stressing any action must be "based on conclusive data".

Previously, support built behind a bill to enact limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately modified. Instead, the government committed to investigate the matter.

Advocacy groups have expressed concerns. An organization set up by the family of a teenager who was lost after encountering harmful platform posts argues that a blanket age ban might not make platforms safer and could create a "sudden drop-off" of harm when users reach the legal age.

"This ban is a answer to the inability of the social media companies to build tools that are safe and suitable for minors," said a leading peer.

America: A State-by-State Landscape

Stateside, regulation is primarily unfolding at the state level against a backdrop of federal stalemate.

• The state of Utah requires guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a bill prohibiting under-14s from joining social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• Virginia has enacted a law restricting teenagers to a single hour of social media time per day, with additional access needing adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced bills demanding parental consent for under-16s to open social media presences.

Despite widespread concern and calls from some figures to follow the Australian lead, a federal ban is presently seen as unlikely.

International Views

Apart from these regions, additional states are also considering moves.

• Malaysia intends to ban social media for teenagers effective next year.
• Brazil has increased the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

However, international agencies strike a more cautious tone. Unicef has warned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "might backfire". The organization highlights that social networks can be a "lifeline" for isolated children and that bans should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to invest in user protection.

Even as this international debate unfolds, the actions of this nation and its followers demonstrate that states around the world are increasingly prepared to delay for platforms to act voluntarily.