The nation's controversial action to ban social media access for those under 16 is creating waves around the globe. Officials, safety advocates, and guardians are monitoring intently to see if this approach will set a precedent for countries abroad.
European Movement
Throughout Europe, a growing number of nations are moving toward similar measures.
- The Danish government plans a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the leader stating that smartphones and apps are "robbing our children's youth". A law is expected to be enacted next year.
- Norway is planning to enforce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to shield the young from the "power of the recommendation systems".
- The Irish government is working on a online verification tool to confirm the user details of social media participants. The media minister have suggested that an Australian-model ban could be "one of the measures on the table".
- In Spain, the prime minister has asked lawmakers to enact a bill lifting the access age for using social media to 16.
- In The French government, the head of state has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a comparable step, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
- The government in The Netherlands has advised parents to block their children from social media up to the age of 15.
Across the European Union, the EU parliament has adopted a non-binding motion calling for a ban for minors without guardian approval is granted. Although it warns of the "addictive" design of these platforms, the step does not establish binding law.
"An effective age limit is a useful first step," said the MEP driving the initiative.
The United Kingdom: A Watchful Eye
Across Britain, the government has kept open a possible ban, arguing that "no option is off the table" but maintaining any decision must be "supported by conclusive evidence".
Previously, support built behind a bill to introduce restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was in the end weakened. However, the government vowed to investigate the matter.
Charities have voiced concerns. A prominent charity set up by the relatives of a teenager who died after being exposed to disturbing social media material suggests that a strict age ban may not protect children and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when young people become eligible.
"Australia's ban is a answer to the inability of the Silicon Valley to design platforms and apps that are secure and suitable for minors," stated a leading online safety campaigner.
The United States: A Fragmented Landscape
In the United States, regulation is mostly occurring at the local government level against a backdrop of national inaction.
- Utah requires guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and limits nighttime use.
- Florida has signed a bill barring under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
- Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with extra use dependent on adult consent.
- The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed measures demanding adult authorization for teenagers to open social media accounts.
Despite bipartisan support and calls from some individuals to copy the Australian path, a US-wide ban is right now seen as improbable.
International Perspectives
Outside of Europe and the US, additional nations are also considering moves.
- The Malaysian government aims to restrict social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
- Brazil has raised the required age for one major platform to 16.
Yet, global organizations take a more nuanced position. The UN children's agency has advised that social media bans pose dangers and "could prove counterproductive". The body notes that social networks can be a "critical link" for marginalized children and that government action should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to prioritize user protection.
Even as this international discussion unfolds, the policies of this nation and others demonstrate that states internationally are increasingly willing to delay for the industry to make changes on their own.
