🔗 Share this article

The Australian bold policy to prohibit social platforms access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Officials, campaigners, and families are watching closely to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

European Trend

Throughout Europe, a growing number of states are moving toward comparable measures.

• The Danish government plans a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM stating that mobile devices and apps are "taking away our youngsters' innocence". Legislation may be enacted in the coming year.
• Norway is preparing to enforce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard the young from the "power of the algorithms".
• Ireland is introducing a digital ID system to confirm the age and identity of social media participants. Officials have stated that an Australia-style ban could be "one of the measures on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has called on parliament to approve a bill increasing the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has recommended a similar step, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has urged guardians to block their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has adopted a symbolic statement supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 unless guardian approval is granted. While it highlights of the "compulsive" design of these platforms, the step does not establish enforceable legislation.

"A clear age restriction is a useful first step," stated one MEP driving the resolution.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Stance

Across Britain, the administration has kept open a future ban, emphasizing that "no option is off the table" but insisting any policy must be "based on robust research".

Last year, support grew behind a proposal to introduce limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually weakened. Nonetheless, the administration pledged to investigate the matter.

Charities have expressed warnings. An organization established by the loved ones of a young person who died after encountering dangerous social media material argues that a blanket age ban may not protect children and could create a "cliff edge" of risk when young people become eligible.

"This ban is a reaction to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to design platforms and apps that are appropriate and age appropriate for children," commented a prominent peer.

The US: A State-by-State Picture

Stateside, regulation is mostly occurring at the regional level due to federal stalemate.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and controls late-night use.
• Florida has enacted a bill prohibiting under-14s from joining social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• Virginia has enacted a rule capping under-16s to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with additional use requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed laws demanding parental consent for under-16s to open social media profiles.

Even with widespread concern and calls from certain figures to copy the Australian example, a US-wide ban is currently seen as improbable.

International Perspectives

Apart from the West, further nations are likewise taking action.

• The Malaysian government plans to ban social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has increased the access age for one major platform to 16.

But, international agencies take a more measured tone. Unicef has cautioned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "could have unintended consequences". The body points out that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for marginalized youth and that bans should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to improve user protection.

While this global conversation evolves, the policies of the Australian government and several other countries indicate that states around the world are increasingly willing to stand by for tech companies to act voluntarily.