The Australian decisive action to restrict social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples internationally. Officials, safety advocates, and families are watching intently to see if this strategy will set a precedent for other nations.
Across Europe Momentum
Across Europe, a growing group of countries are considering parallel restrictions.
- Denmark plans a ban on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister declaring that phones and platforms are "taking away our children's youth". The policy is expected to be enacted in the coming year.
- Norway is planning to enforce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard young people from the "power of the AI".
- Ireland is developing a digital ID system to verify the identity and age of social media users. Officials have indicated that an Australia-style ban remains "one of the measures on the table".
- In The Spanish government, the president has called on the legislature to enact a proposal lifting the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
- In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a comparable action, including an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
- The administration in The Netherlands has recommended guardians to prevent their children from social media before 15.
At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has passed a symbolic motion supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 except if a parent decides otherwise is granted. While it cautions of the "habit-forming" quality of these platforms, the step does not establish enforceable legislation.
"A clear age barrier is a solid starting point," said a leading parliamentarian behind the resolution.
The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Approach
For the United Kingdom, the administration has kept open a potential ban, emphasizing that "no option is off the table" but insisting any policy must be "grounded in conclusive research".
Earlier, momentum gathered behind a bill to introduce restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was eventually modified. Nonetheless, the administration vowed to further research the topic.
Campaign organizations have voiced apprehensions. A prominent charity established by the family of a young person who was lost after being exposed to harmful platform posts suggests that a strict age ban may not make platforms safer and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of risk when young people become eligible.
"The Australian ban is a answer to the failure of the tech sector to create products and services that are secure and fit for children," stated a leading peer.
The United States: A Fragmented Picture
Stateside, regulation is largely happening at the local level amid national inaction.
- Utah demands adult approval for under-18s to use social media and controls nighttime use.
- The state of Florida has passed a law barring children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
- The state of Virginia has enacted a regulation limiting minors to one hour of social media access per day, with any further access needing a guardian's okay.
- The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted bills demanding parental consent for minors to open social media presences.
Despite bipartisan support and proposals from various politicians to copy this path, a nationwide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.
Worldwide Outlook
Beyond these regions, other nations are similarly taking action.
- Malaysia aims to restrict social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
- Brazil has lifted the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.
However, global agencies adopt a more measured stance. The UN children's agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "might backfire". The body notes that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for marginalized children and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to improve child safeguards.
While this international conversation evolves, the steps of the Australian government and several other countries show that policymakers around the world are no longer content to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.
