The nation's controversial move to ban social networking access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Officials, child protection groups, and families are monitoring intently to see if this tactic will become a template for the rest of the world.
The European Trend
Across Europe, a rising chorus of countries are considering similar bans.
- The Danish government plans a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM declaring that mobile devices and platforms are "taking away our children's youth". Legislation could be formalized soon.
- The Norwegian government is set to enforce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to protect the young from the "power of the algorithms".
- The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to authenticate the identity and age of social media users. Officials have indicated that an similar ban could be "an options on the table".
- In Spain, the president has called on parliament to approve a law increasing the minimum age for using social media to 16.
- In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has suggested a related step, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
- The government in the Netherlands has advised parents to block their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.
For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has approved a non-binding motion supporting a ban for minors unless a parent decides otherwise is granted. While it highlights of the "addictive" design of these apps, the resolution does not create enforceable legislation.
"An effective age limit is a solid first step," stated one parliamentarian supporting the measure.
The UK: A Cautious Approach
For the United Kingdom, the leadership has not ruled out a possible ban, arguing that "no measure is discarded" but maintaining any policy must be "based on robust evidence".
Last year, momentum gathered behind a bill to introduce controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end modified. However, the administration vowed to further research the topic.
Advocacy groups have expressed warnings. An organization established by the loved ones of a young person who took her own life after viewing harmful online content contends that a simple age ban could fail to improve online safety and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of risk when young people reach the legal age.
"This ban is a answer to the failure of the social media companies to create platforms and apps that are safe and suitable for young users," stated a prominent peer.
The United States: A Decentralized Landscape
In the United States, action is mostly happening at the state government level due to country-wide stalemate.
- Utah demands guardian permission for minors to use social media and restricts overnight use.
- Florida has passed a law prohibiting under-14s from joining social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
- The state of Virginia has approved a law limiting teenagers to a single hour of social media access per day, with any further time requiring adult consent.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also introduced measures demanding parental consent for minors to create social media profiles.
Despite bipartisan support and suggestions from some individuals to follow the Australian lead, a federal ban is presently seen as unlikely.
Global Perspectives
Apart from these regions, further countries are likewise exploring options.
- Malaysia intends to ban social media for teenagers beginning next year.
- Brazil has increased the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.
But, world bodies adopt a more nuanced tone. A major UN agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "may even have unintended consequences". The agency points out that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for marginalized youth and that bans should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to improve child safeguards.
Even as this global conversation unfolds, the policies of the Australian government and its followers indicate that policymakers around the world are increasingly prepared to delay for tech companies to self-regulate.
