Will Different States Emulate Australia's Lead in Restricting Social Media for Under-16s?

Australia's bold policy to prohibit social networking access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples worldwide. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and families are watching closely to see if this approach will become a template for other nations.

The European Trend

Throughout Europe, a increasing group of states are moving toward parallel bans.

• The Danish government has announced a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM arguing that mobile devices and apps are "stealing our children's childhood". The policy is expected to be formalized in the coming year.
• Norway is set to introduce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to protect the young from the "influence of the algorithms".
• Ireland is developing a online verification tool to confirm the identity and age of social media account holders. The media minister have indicated that an Australian-model ban remains "one of the measures under consideration".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged parliament to approve a proposal increasing the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a comparable action, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has advised parents to block their children from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the EU parliament has adopted a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 except if guardian approval is provided. Although it highlights of the "compulsive" nature of these platforms, the resolution does not enact binding law.

"A strong age restriction is a useful foundation," commented a leading MEP behind the initiative.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Approach

In the UK, the administration has not ruled out a potential ban, emphasizing that "nothing is off the table" but insisting any policy must be "based on conclusive data".

Last year, interest grew behind a legislative effort to impose limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately weakened. Nonetheless, the administration pledged to conduct more studies the topic.

Campaign organizations have expressed warnings. One foundation established by the relatives of a teenager who was lost after encountering disturbing social media material suggests that a simple age ban could fail to protect children and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of harm when teens reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the failure of the tech sector to build products and services that are safe and age appropriate for minors," stated a leading peer.

America: A Decentralized Picture

Stateside, legislation is mostly occurring at the regional government level against a backdrop of country-wide inaction.

• The state of Utah mandates adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and controls late-night use.
• Florida has signed a bill prohibiting children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has enacted a rule capping minors to one hour of social media access per day, with additional use needing adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also passed laws demanding parental consent for under-16s to set up social media profiles.

Despite cross-party agreement and calls from some politicians to copy Australia's example, a nationwide ban is presently seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Views

Apart from these regions, additional nations are similarly taking action.

• The Malaysian government intends to restrict social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• Brazil has increased the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, global bodies strike a more nuanced position. The UN children's agency has cautioned that social media bans have downsides and "might have unintended consequences". The agency points out that social networks can be a "vital connection" for marginalized youth and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to invest in user protection.

While this global conversation unfolds, the steps of the Australian government and its followers demonstrate that governments around the world are less and less prepared to delay for the industry to make changes on their own.