🔗 Share this article

Australia's decisive move to restrict social networking access for young people below 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and families are watching closely to see if this approach will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

The European Movement

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

• Denmark has stated a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader arguing that mobile devices and platforms are "taking away our children's youth". The policy is expected to be enacted soon.
• Norway is planning to implement a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to protect young people from the "influence of the AI".
• The Irish government is working on a online verification tool to authenticate the age and identity of social media users. The media minister have indicated that an similar ban is "an options on the table".
• In Spain, the president has asked lawmakers to approve a bill raising the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a related action, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The government in The Netherlands has advised guardians to restrict their youngsters from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the EU parliament has approved a advisory resolution calling for a ban for minors without a parent decides otherwise is given. Even though it warns of the "habit-forming" quality of these services, the step does not establish enforceable legislation.

"An effective age barrier is a solid foundation," said one MEP behind the measure.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Eye

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "no option is off the table" but insisting any action must be "based on robust evidence".

Earlier, support built behind a bill to impose restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately watered down. However, the government vowed to further research the issue.

Advocacy groups have voiced warnings. One foundation established by the relatives of a girl who died after encountering disturbing social media material contends that a simple age ban could fail to protect children and could create a "cliff edge" of exposure when users become eligible.

"This ban is a reaction to the inability of the tech sector to build platforms and apps that are appropriate and suitable for children," said a prominent peer.

America: A State-by-State Approach

In the United States, action is mostly happening at the state level against a backdrop of federal gridlock.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• The state of Florida has passed a law banning under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has passed a regulation limiting under-16s to a single hour of social media use per day, with any further use needing parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced measures demanding guardian approval for minors to set up social media profiles.

Despite bipartisan support and suggestions from some figures to mimic the Australian path, a US-wide ban is presently seen as improbable.

International Views

Beyond the West, additional nations are also taking action.

• Malaysia plans to restrict social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• Brazil has increased the required age for Instagram to 16.

But, international bodies adopt a more cautious tone. The UN children's agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "may even backfire". The agency points out that the internet can be a "vital connection" for marginalized young people and that government action should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to prioritize safety.

As this worldwide conversation evolves, the actions of this nation and several other countries show that states around the world are no longer willing to delay for platforms to make changes on their own.