Australia's controversial policy to prohibit social platforms access for young people below 16 is sparking debate internationally. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and guardians are monitoring with great interest to see if this approach will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.
European Movement
Throughout Europe, a growing number of states are considering comparable restrictions.
- The Danish government plans a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the leader arguing that mobile devices and apps are "robbing our kids' innocence". A law could be passed soon.
- The Norwegian government is preparing to enforce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to safeguard the young from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
- The Irish government is working on a digital wallet to authenticate the age and identity of social media account holders. The media minister have stated that an Australia-style ban remains "a potential measures in reserve".
- In The Spanish government, the president has urged the legislature to approve a bill raising the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
- In France, the head of state has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a related action, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The authorities in The Dutch government has urged guardians to block their kids from social media until 15.
At the EU level, the EU parliament has adopted a advisory motion demanding a ban for under-16s except if guardian approval is granted. Even though it highlights of the "habit-forming" quality of these platforms, the step does not create mandatory rules.
"An effective age limit is a useful first step," said a leading MEP behind the initiative.
The United Kingdom: A Watchful Approach
Across Britain, the leadership has remained open to a potential ban, emphasizing that "no measure is being dismissed" but stressing any action must be "supported by strong research".
Earlier, momentum grew behind a proposal to introduce controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end watered down. Instead, the administration vowed to conduct more studies the issue.
Advocacy groups have expressed apprehensions. A prominent charity founded by the family of a girl who took her own life after viewing harmful social media material contends that a blanket age ban may not improve online safety and could create a "cliff edge" of harm when teens turn 16.
"The Australian ban is a answer to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to build platforms and apps that are appropriate and fit for children," said a leading online safety campaigner.
America: A Fragmented Approach
Stateside, legislation is mostly occurring at the state level amid national stalemate.
- Utah mandates adult approval for minors to use social media and limits overnight use.
- Florida has passed a bill barring under-14s from accessing social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
- Virginia has passed a rule limiting teenagers to a single hour of social media access per day, with any further access requiring a guardian's okay.
- The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly enacted measures demanding guardian approval for minors to set up social media profiles.
Even with bipartisan support and suggestions from some politicians to copy the Australian example, a nationwide ban is currently seen as unlikely.
International Views
Apart from the West, additional nations are similarly considering moves.
- Malaysia aims to restrict social media for under-16s effective next year.
- Brazil has raised the minimum age for Instagram to 16.
However, world bodies strike a more nuanced stance. A major UN agency has advised that age-based restrictions have downsides and "could have unintended consequences". The body notes that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable youth and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to improve user protection.
Even as this international debate unfolds, the actions of the Australian government and several other countries show that states around the world are no longer prepared to delay for platforms to make changes on their own.
