🔗 Share this article

The Australian controversial policy to ban social platforms access for those under 16 is creating waves internationally. Lawmakers, campaigners, and guardians are monitoring intently to see if this strategy will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Movement

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

• The Danish government has announced a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the PM stating that phones and apps are "robbing our children's childhood". Legislation could be formalized in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is planning to implement a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard young people from the "power of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is introducing a digital wallet to authenticate the age and identity of social media participants. Officials have indicated that an Australia-style ban is "an options under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the president has asked lawmakers to enact a law lifting the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has recommended a related action, including an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in the Netherlands has urged families to restrict their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has adopted a advisory resolution calling for a ban for minors without guardian approval is granted. Even though it warns of the "habit-forming" nature of these platforms, the step does not establish enforceable legislation.

"A strong age limit is a useful first step," commented a leading MEP behind the resolution.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Approach

Across Britain, the administration has kept open a possible ban, emphasizing that "no measure is being dismissed" but insisting any decision must be "grounded in conclusive research".

Last year, interest gathered behind a legislative effort to introduce controls on social media use by minors, but it was eventually weakened. Instead, the administration vowed to further research the issue.

Campaign organizations have voiced concerns. A prominent charity set up by the loved ones of a young person who was lost after encountering dangerous social media material contends that a strict age ban might not make platforms safer and could result in a "dangerous transition" of harm when teens become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a answer to the inability of the social media companies to create tools that are appropriate and fit for young users," commented a influential online safety campaigner.

America: A Decentralized Approach

In the United States, regulation is primarily happening at the state government level against a backdrop of country-wide inaction.

• Utah demands guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and controls late-night use.
• The state of Florida has signed a bill prohibiting those below 14 from accessing social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has enacted a rule restricting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with extra access needing parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed laws requiring adult authorization for under-16s to create social media profiles.

Even with widespread concern and proposals from various politicians to mimic the Australian example, a US-wide ban is presently seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Outlook

Apart from Europe and the US, further nations are similarly considering moves.

• Malaysia plans to prohibit social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

However, international agencies strike a more measured stance. The UN children's agency has advised that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "might backfire". The organization points out that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for marginalized children and that bans should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to prioritize safety.

As this global debate evolves, the actions of the Australian government and its followers show that policymakers internationally are no longer willing to wait for the industry to act voluntarily.