Will Additional States Emulate Australia's Example in Prohibiting Social Platforms for Under-16s?

Australia's bold move to prohibit social media access for those under 16 is sparking debate worldwide. Officials, campaigners, and guardians are watching with great interest to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

European Trend

In Europe, a rising group of countries are considering parallel measures.

• Denmark plans a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister stating that smartphones and apps are "stealing our youngsters' innocence". A law is expected to be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is preparing to implement a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to safeguard the young from the "influence of the AI".
• Ireland is developing a digital wallet to authenticate the identity and age of social media account holders. Authorities have indicated that an Australian-model ban remains "one of the options under consideration".
• In Spain, the president has called on parliament to approve a law raising the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a related step, including an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in The Netherlands has recommended families to restrict their kids from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has approved a symbolic motion demanding a ban for under-16s without guardian approval is provided. While it warns of the "compulsive" nature of these services, the resolution does not create mandatory rules.

"A clear age limit is a good first step," stated the European lawmaker behind the measure.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Approach

Across Britain, the leadership has kept open a future ban, stating that "no measure is being dismissed" but stressing any action must be "supported by conclusive evidence".

Previously, support gathered behind a proposal to impose controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end watered down. Instead, the government committed to further research the topic.

Charities have expressed apprehensions. A prominent charity established by the relatives of a teenager who died after encountering harmful platform posts contends that a strict age ban might not improve online safety and could lead to a "cliff edge" of harm when teens turn 16.

"The Australian ban is a response to the inability of the social media companies to create products and services that are safe and suitable for young users," stated a prominent peer.

The US: A Fragmented Landscape

Stateside, regulation is mostly occurring at the state government level due to national gridlock.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for minors to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a measure prohibiting those below 14 from joining social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• Virginia has approved a law capping under-16s to one hour of social media use per day, with any further access dependent on a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also introduced measures requiring adult authorization for minors to create social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and calls from some politicians to copy this path, a US-wide ban is presently seen as improbable.

International Perspectives

Outside of these regions, further nations are similarly taking action.

• Malaysia intends to ban social media for under-16s effective next year.
• Brazil has lifted the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, international bodies take a more nuanced position. A major UN agency has cautioned that social media bans pose dangers and "might have unintended consequences". The organization notes that the internet can be a "critical link" for vulnerable young people and that bans should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to invest in safety.

Even as this global debate continues, the actions of this nation and its followers demonstrate that states around the world are no longer willing to stand by for platforms to self-regulate.