Australia's controversial policy to restrict social media access for those under 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and parents are monitoring with great interest to see if this approach will set a precedent for other nations.
The European Trend
Throughout Europe, a rising number of countries are considering similar bans.
- Denmark plans a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the PM arguing that smartphones and apps are "taking away our children's innocence". The policy is expected to be formalized next year.
- Norway is planning to implement a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to protect children from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
- The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to authenticate the age and identity of social media account holders. Officials have indicated that an Australian-model ban is "an tools in reserve".
- In Spain, the president has asked parliament to enact a proposal lifting the legal age for joining social media to 16.
- In France, the president has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a related move, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
- The authorities in the Netherlands has advised guardians to prevent their children from social media up to the age of 15.
For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has adopted a non-binding motion calling for a ban for minors without guardian approval is granted. Although it cautions of the "compulsive" quality of these apps, the step does not enact binding law.
"A strong age barrier is a good foundation," stated the parliamentarian driving the initiative.
The UK: A Cautious Stance
For the United Kingdom, the administration has kept open a potential ban, arguing that "nothing is being dismissed" but maintaining any decision must be "grounded in robust data".
Earlier, momentum built behind a legislative effort to enact limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately watered down. However, the administration committed to further research the issue.
Advocacy groups have expressed concerns. One foundation set up by the relatives of a young person who took her own life after being exposed to harmful platform posts suggests that a simple age ban could fail to protect children and could result in a "cliff edge" of exposure when young people become eligible.
"Australia's ban is a answer to the failure of the Silicon Valley to build platforms and apps that are secure and suitable for minors," said a prominent child protection advocate.
The US: A Fragmented Picture
In the United States, regulation is primarily happening at the state level due to national gridlock.
- The state of Utah mandates parental consent for minors to use social media and restricts overnight use.
- The state of Florida has enacted a measure banning under-14s from accessing social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
- Virginia has approved a rule limiting minors to a single hour of social media access per day, with additional time dependent on a guardian's okay.
- The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced measures demanding adult authorization for minors to open social media accounts.
Even with cross-party agreement and proposals from certain individuals to follow this example, a federal ban is presently seen as improbable.
Worldwide Outlook
Apart from Europe and the US, other states are likewise exploring options.
- The Malaysian government intends to prohibit social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
- The Brazilian authorities has raised the required age for one major platform to 16.
Yet, world bodies take a more cautious position. A major UN agency has advised that social media bans have downsides and "could prove counterproductive". The organization notes that social networks can be a "lifeline" for marginalized youth and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to prioritize safety.
As this worldwide conversation unfolds, the policies of this nation and several other countries show that policymakers around the world are increasingly willing to stand by for tech companies to act voluntarily.
