The nation's bold policy to prohibit social media access for those under 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Lawmakers, campaigners, and guardians are monitoring with great interest to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for other nations.
European Movement
Throughout Europe, a growing group of nations are exploring comparable bans.
- The Danish government has stated a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister declaring that phones and platforms are "robbing our kids' youth". The policy could be passed in the coming year.
- Norway is set to implement a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to shield the young from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
- The Irish government is introducing a digital ID system to authenticate the identity and age of social media participants. Authorities have indicated that an Australian-model ban could be "one of the tools in reserve".
- In Spain, the president has urged parliament to approve a proposal increasing the legal age for using social media to 16.
- In France, the president has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a related move, including an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The government in The Netherlands has recommended parents to prevent their kids from social media up to the age of 15.
Across the European Union, the EU parliament has approved a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for minors without guardian approval is provided. Although it warns of the "habit-forming" design of these platforms, the step does not enact mandatory rules.
"An effective age barrier is a good foundation," stated one MEP supporting the initiative.
The UK: An Evidence-Based Eye
In the UK, the leadership has kept open a future ban, emphasizing that "no option is discarded" but stressing any policy must be "supported by robust evidence".
Previously, momentum gathered behind a legislative effort to impose controls on social media use by minors, but it was in the end weakened. Instead, the administration pledged to investigate the issue.
Advocacy groups have voiced warnings. A prominent charity set up by the loved ones of a young person who was lost after viewing harmful online content argues that a simple age ban might not improve online safety and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of risk when users reach the legal age.
"This ban is a response to the inability of the tech sector to create platforms and apps that are appropriate and fit for children," commented a prominent online safety campaigner.
America: A Fragmented Approach
In the United States, legislation is mostly happening at the state level against a backdrop of country-wide gridlock.
- Utah mandates adult approval for under-18s to use social media and limits nighttime use.
- Florida has enacted a bill banning children under fourteen from joining social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
- Virginia has passed a law capping teenagers to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with any further time needing adult consent.
- Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise introduced bills mandating parental consent for minors to set up social media presences.
Even with bipartisan support and suggestions from certain politicians to copy this example, a federal ban is right now seen as improbable.
International Views
Apart from these regions, further nations are also taking action.
- Malaysia intends to ban social media for teenagers starting from next year.
- Brazil has lifted the minimum age for Instagram to 16.
However, world agencies strike a more nuanced tone. Unicef has advised that social media bans pose dangers and "might prove counterproductive". The body highlights that the internet can be a "critical link" for marginalized young people and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to prioritize child safeguards.
Even as this international conversation unfolds, the policies of the Australian government and its followers show that states globally are no longer content to wait for tech companies to self-regulate.
