🔗 Share this article

The nation's controversial policy to ban social platforms access for young people below 16 is creating waves internationally. Officials, safety advocates, and parents are observing with great interest to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Momentum

Across Europe, a rising chorus of countries are exploring comparable bans.

• Denmark has stated a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM arguing that smartphones and networks are "taking away our kids' innocence". The policy is expected to be formalized soon.
• Norway is set to introduce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to protect young people from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is developing a digital ID system to authenticate the age and identity of social media users. The media minister have indicated that an Australia-style ban could be "a potential options under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has asked parliament to approve a bill lifting the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a comparable move, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The administration in the Netherlands has urged parents to restrict their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has adopted a non-binding statement supporting a ban for minors without guardian approval is granted. Even though it warns of the "habit-forming" nature of these services, the step does not enact binding law.

"An effective age restriction is a useful foundation," said one parliamentarian driving the resolution.

The UK: A Watchful Eye

Across Britain, the administration has kept open a possible ban, emphasizing that "no measure is being dismissed" but insisting any decision must be "based on conclusive research".

Last year, interest built behind a bill to introduce limits on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately watered down. Nonetheless, the administration vowed to investigate the matter.

Campaign organizations have expressed warnings. A prominent charity established by the relatives of a teenager who was lost after viewing harmful online content argues that a blanket age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of harm when young people turn 16.

"This ban is a response to the inability of the tech sector to design products and services that are safe and age appropriate for children," commented a prominent peer.

The United States: A State-by-State Picture

Stateside, action is mostly happening at the state level against a backdrop of national gridlock.

• Utah mandates adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• Florida has passed a bill prohibiting children under fourteen from joining social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• Virginia has passed a regulation restricting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with extra use needing adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly enacted measures demanding guardian approval for under-16s to open social media accounts.

Even with cross-party agreement and calls from some figures to follow this lead, a nationwide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

Global Perspectives

Apart from Europe and the US, additional states are also exploring options.

• Malaysia intends to ban social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• Brazil has increased the access age for one major platform to 16.

But, world agencies take a more nuanced position. A major UN agency has advised that social media bans carry risks and "could prove counterproductive". The body points out that social networks can be a "vital connection" for isolated children and that bans should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to improve child safeguards.

As this worldwide debate unfolds, the steps of Australia and its followers show that policymakers internationally are increasingly willing to wait for tech companies to self-regulate.