🔗 Share this article

Australia's bold move to prohibit social media access for individuals under sixteen is sparking debate worldwide. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and guardians are watching closely to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.

The European Momentum

Across Europe, a rising chorus of nations are considering comparable measures.

• Denmark has stated a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the PM stating that mobile devices and platforms are "stealing our youngsters' youth". Legislation may be passed soon.
• Norway is preparing to enforce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to shield the young from the "power of the AI".
• Ireland is working on a digital ID system to authenticate the age and identity of social media account holders. Officials have stated that an Australian-model ban could be "a potential options in reserve".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged lawmakers to approve a bill lifting the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has suggested a similar step, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has urged families to block their kids from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the EU parliament has passed a advisory motion demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 without parental consent is granted. Even though it warns of the "addictive" quality of these apps, the resolution does not establish binding law.

"A strong age restriction is a solid foundation," stated one European lawmaker supporting the measure.

Britain: A Watchful Stance

In the UK, the leadership has kept open a possible ban, emphasizing that "no option is being dismissed" but insisting any action must be "grounded in conclusive evidence".

Previously, interest gathered behind a legislative effort to impose controls on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately weakened. However, the government vowed to conduct more studies the topic.

Charities have raised apprehensions. One foundation founded by the family of a girl who took her own life after being exposed to harmful social media material argues that a simple age ban might not make platforms safer and could create a "dangerous transition" of risk when teens reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a response to the failure of the Silicon Valley to create products and services that are secure and suitable for children," commented a prominent online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Fragmented Picture

In the United States, regulation is mostly occurring at the state level due to federal gridlock.

• Utah demands guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and limits overnight use.
• Florida has enacted a measure banning children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• Virginia has passed a rule restricting teenagers to one hour of social media use per day, with additional use dependent on adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly passed bills mandating adult authorization for minors to open social media presences.

Even with bipartisan support and proposals from some figures to copy the Australian lead, a nationwide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

International Outlook

Outside of Europe and the US, further countries are also exploring options.

• Malaysia aims to ban social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, international bodies adopt a more nuanced stance. The UN children's agency has advised that social media bans carry risks and "might backfire". The body highlights that social networks can be a "critical link" for vulnerable young people and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to prioritize safety.

While this global conversation unfolds, the steps of Australia and others indicate that policymakers around the world are less and less prepared to wait for the industry to self-regulate.