Australia's bold move to prohibit social networking access for young people below 16 is creating waves internationally. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and families are monitoring closely to see if this tactic will become a template for countries abroad.
Across Europe Movement
In Europe, a increasing chorus of countries are exploring parallel restrictions.
- Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the leader stating that mobile devices and platforms are "taking away our youngsters' youth". The policy is expected to be formalized next year.
- Norway is preparing to introduce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to protect young people from the "power of the AI".
- Ireland is working on a online verification tool to authenticate the identity and age of social media users. The media minister have suggested that an Australian-model ban is "one of the tools in reserve".
- In Spain, the president has asked the legislature to pass a proposal raising the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
- In France, the president has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has recommended a similar step, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
- The administration in the Netherlands has urged parents to restrict their youngsters from social media before 15.
At the EU level, the EU parliament has passed a symbolic statement calling for a ban for under-16s without parental consent is given. Even though it highlights of the "compulsive" quality of these apps, the step does not enact binding law.
"A clear age restriction is a good foundation," stated a leading European lawmaker supporting the measure.
The United Kingdom: A Cautious Stance
In the UK, the leadership has kept open a potential ban, stating that "nothing is being dismissed" but maintaining any action must be "based on conclusive evidence".
Previously, support gathered behind a proposal to impose controls on social media use by minors, but it was in the end modified. Instead, the government committed to further research the topic.
Advocacy groups have voiced apprehensions. An organization set up by the loved ones of a young person who took her own life after being exposed to disturbing social media material contends that a simple age ban could fail to improve online safety and could create a "sudden drop-off" of risk when users become eligible.
"Australia's ban is a answer to the failure of the tech sector to design platforms and apps that are safe and suitable for young users," stated a leading child protection advocate.
The US: A Fragmented Landscape
Stateside, legislation is largely happening at the local level due to national gridlock.
- Utah demands guardian permission for minors to use social media and controls nighttime use.
- Florida has signed a law prohibiting children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
- Virginia has passed a regulation capping minors to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with any further access dependent on a guardian's okay.
- The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise introduced laws demanding parental consent for under-16s to open social media presences.
Despite bipartisan support and calls from certain individuals to mimic the Australian example, a US-wide ban is right now seen as improbable.
Global Outlook
Apart from these regions, further nations are likewise taking action.
- Malaysia plans to restrict social media for teenagers starting from next year.
- The Brazilian authorities has lifted the minimum age for one major platform to 16.
Yet, world bodies strike a more measured position. A major UN agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "might prove counterproductive". The body points out that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable young people and that bans should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to improve safety.
While this international conversation continues, the policies of the Australian government and several other countries demonstrate that governments internationally are increasingly willing to delay for tech companies to self-regulate.
