🔗 Share this article

The Australian controversial policy to prohibit social networking access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves around the globe. Lawmakers, campaigners, and guardians are observing intently to see if this approach will become a template for other nations.

European Trend

Throughout Europe, a rising group of states are considering parallel restrictions.

• Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister declaring that phones and apps are "stealing our youngsters' youth". Legislation is expected to be passed next year.
• The Norwegian government is set to implement a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to protect young people from the "influence of the algorithms".
• Ireland is developing a digital wallet to authenticate the user details of social media account holders. Authorities have stated that an similar ban is "an options under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has urged the legislature to pass a proposal lifting the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a related move, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in The Dutch government has advised guardians to prevent their youngsters from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has approved a advisory resolution calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 unless a parent decides otherwise is granted. Even though it highlights of the "compulsive" design of these services, the move does not enact mandatory rules.

"A clear age barrier is a solid foundation," said a leading parliamentarian behind the initiative.

Britain: A Cautious Stance

In the UK, the government has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "no option is off the table" but stressing any action must be "based on robust data".

Previously, support gathered behind a legislative effort to impose restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately watered down. Nonetheless, the administration committed to investigate the matter.

Advocacy groups have raised concerns. One foundation established by the loved ones of a young person who was lost after viewing harmful online content argues that a simple age ban might not make platforms safer and could result in a "cliff edge" of harm when users turn 16.

"This ban is a answer to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to design products and services that are safe and suitable for young users," said a prominent online safety campaigner.

The US: A State-by-State Landscape

Stateside, action is primarily occurring at the local level due to country-wide stalemate.

• Utah mandates adult approval for under-18s to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• Florida has signed a bill barring children under fourteen from joining social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has passed a law limiting minors to a single hour of social media access per day, with additional time needing a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise passed laws requiring parental consent for under-16s to open social media accounts.

Even with cross-party agreement and proposals from various individuals to mimic this path, a US-wide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Global Outlook

Apart from Europe and the US, other countries are likewise exploring options.

• The Malaysian government aims to prohibit social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
• Brazil has raised the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, global bodies strike a more cautious position. The UN children's agency has warned that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "could prove counterproductive". The organization points out that the internet can be a "lifeline" for marginalized young people and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to improve child safeguards.

While this worldwide conversation unfolds, the actions of this nation and others show that states internationally are no longer willing to delay for tech companies to self-regulate.