The Australian controversial move to restrict social platforms access for young people below 16 is creating waves internationally. Officials, child protection groups, and parents are observing with great interest to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.
European Movement
Across Europe, a growing group of countries are moving toward parallel bans.
- Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the PM arguing that mobile devices and apps are "taking away our children's innocence". The policy is expected to be enacted in the coming year.
- Norway is planning to introduce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard the young from the "power of the recommendation systems".
- The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to verify the identity and age of social media users. The media minister have stated that an Australian-model ban remains "one of the measures in reserve".
- In Spain, the leader has asked lawmakers to enact a bill lifting the access age for joining social media to 16.
- In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a related action, including an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The authorities in The Dutch government has advised parents to block their children from social media until 15.
For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has approved a symbolic motion calling for a ban for minors without parental consent is given. While it highlights of the "compulsive" quality of these platforms, the step does not enact enforceable legislation.
"An effective age barrier is a useful starting point," said a leading MEP driving the resolution.
Britain: A Cautious Stance
For the United Kingdom, the leadership has not ruled out a future ban, stating that "no measure is off the table" but insisting any decision must be "based on robust evidence".
Earlier, momentum gathered behind a proposal to enact limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end watered down. Instead, the administration pledged to conduct more studies the issue.
Advocacy groups have raised apprehensions. A prominent charity founded by the family of a girl who took her own life after encountering harmful online content suggests that a strict age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could result in 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 build platforms and apps that are appropriate and age appropriate for minors," stated a prominent online safety campaigner.
The United States: A Fragmented Approach
In the United States, regulation is primarily occurring at the state level against a backdrop of country-wide inaction.
- Utah requires guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and restricts late-night use.
- The state of Florida has passed a bill barring those below 14 from accessing social media, though it is subject to court battles.
- The state of Virginia has approved a law capping under-16s to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with any further use dependent on parental permission.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed bills requiring guardian approval for minors to create social media profiles.
Even with widespread concern and calls from some politicians to follow this path, a federal ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.
Worldwide Outlook
Apart from Europe and the US, additional nations are also exploring options.
- Malaysia plans to prohibit social media for under-16s beginning next year.
- Brazil has increased the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.
Yet, global organizations strike a more measured tone. The UN children's agency has advised that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "might prove counterproductive". The organization points out that the internet can be a "lifeline" for isolated youth and that government action should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to invest in user protection.
Even as this worldwide debate unfolds, the steps of the Australian government and several other countries indicate that states internationally are less and less content to stand by for tech companies to act voluntarily.
