🔗 Share this article

The nation's bold policy to prohibit social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves internationally. Officials, campaigners, and guardians are watching intently to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for other nations.

The European Movement

Across Europe, a increasing number of countries are considering comparable measures.

• The Danish government has announced a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister stating that phones and networks are "stealing our youngsters' childhood". A law may be enacted soon.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to introduce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to safeguard young people from the "manipulative force of the AI".
• Ireland is working on a online verification tool to verify the age and identity of social media participants. The media minister have suggested that an similar ban is "a potential options under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the president has called on parliament to pass a proposal increasing the legal age for accessing 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 similar move, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The administration in The Netherlands has urged parents to restrict their kids from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has adopted a non-binding statement demanding a ban for under-16s unless parental consent is granted. Although it warns of the "compulsive" design of these platforms, the step does not enact binding law.

"A clear age limit is a useful starting point," said one European lawmaker driving the initiative.

The United Kingdom: A Watchful Approach

In the UK, the government has remained open to a possible ban, stating that "nothing is off the table" but maintaining any policy must be "based on conclusive data".

Earlier, interest grew behind a legislative effort to introduce restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end watered down. However, the administration committed to investigate the topic.

Charities have expressed warnings. A prominent charity established by the family of a teenager who took her own life after viewing dangerous online content suggests that a strict age ban could fail to protect children and could result in a "cliff edge" of exposure when users become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a answer to the refusal of the social media companies to build platforms and apps that are secure and fit for young users," said a prominent child protection advocate.

The US: A Fragmented Approach

In the United States, action is largely unfolding at the local level due to federal stalemate.

• Utah requires guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and controls overnight use.
• The state of Florida has passed a measure banning under-14s from joining social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a regulation restricting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with any further access requiring adult consent.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly enacted bills mandating adult authorization for minors to set up social media profiles.

Despite bipartisan support and suggestions from various figures to follow the Australian lead, a US-wide ban is right now seen as improbable.

Worldwide Views

Beyond these regions, other countries are similarly considering moves.

• The Malaysian government plans to restrict social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• Brazil has increased the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, global organizations strike a more cautious tone. Unicef has advised that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "may even backfire". The organization highlights that social networks can be a "lifeline" for marginalized children and that bans should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to invest in user protection.

As this global debate unfolds, the policies of the Australian government and others indicate that states around the world are less and less willing to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.