🔗 Share this article

Australia's decisive action to prohibit social platforms access for those under 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Officials, safety advocates, and guardians are monitoring with great interest to see if this approach will become a template for other nations.

Across Europe Movement

Across Europe, a growing group of nations are considering parallel bans.

• The Danish government has stated a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader declaring that smartphones and platforms are "taking away our children's childhood". Legislation could be formalized soon.
• Norway is preparing to enforce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to shield the young from the "influence of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is developing a digital wallet to confirm the user details of social media account holders. Authorities have indicated that an Australian-model ban is "an measures on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has asked the legislature to enact a law raising the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has endorsed a related move, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in The Dutch government has recommended guardians to prevent their children from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has approved a advisory statement supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 without guardian approval is provided. While it warns of the "habit-forming" design of these platforms, the step does not establish mandatory rules.

"A clear age restriction is a good foundation," stated a leading European lawmaker driving the initiative.

Britain: A Cautious Eye

Across Britain, the government has not ruled out a potential ban, arguing that "nothing is being dismissed" but maintaining any policy must be "supported by robust evidence".

Last year, interest built behind a legislative effort to impose controls on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately watered down. Instead, the government vowed to further research the matter.

Charities have raised warnings. An organization founded by the loved ones of a young person who died after viewing disturbing social media material contends that a strict age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of harm when teens turn 16.

"The Australian ban is a response to the failure of the tech sector to create platforms and apps that are appropriate and suitable for children," stated a leading peer.

The United States: A State-by-State Approach

Stateside, legislation is primarily happening at the local government level amid country-wide stalemate.

• The state of Utah mandates parental consent for minors to use social media and controls overnight use.
• Florida has enacted a bill barring children under fourteen from joining social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a law limiting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with additional time requiring a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced measures demanding adult authorization for teenagers to create social media profiles.

Despite bipartisan support and proposals from some figures to follow this lead, a nationwide ban is presently seen as improbable.

Global Views

Beyond the West, further countries are similarly taking action.

• The Malaysian government aims to prohibit social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• Brazil has lifted the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

However, international bodies adopt a more measured tone. Unicef has advised that social media bans have downsides and "might backfire". The organization highlights that online platforms can be a "critical link" for isolated young people and that bans should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to prioritize safety.

While this global conversation continues, the policies of the Australian government and others indicate that policymakers internationally are no longer content to delay for tech companies to self-regulate.