🔗 Share this article

The Australian controversial policy to ban social platforms access for young people below 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Lawmakers, campaigners, and parents are observing closely to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Movement

In Europe, a rising number of nations are considering similar bans.

• Denmark has announced a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister declaring that phones and apps are "stealing our youngsters' innocence". The policy could be formalized next year.
• Norway is set to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to shield young people from the "manipulative force of the AI".
• The Irish government is introducing a digital ID system to verify the age and identity of social media account holders. Officials have indicated that an Australia-style ban could be "an options in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has asked parliament to pass a proposal raising the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the president has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has endorsed a similar action, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in The Dutch government has urged parents to restrict their youngsters from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has passed a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for minors except if guardian approval is granted. While it warns of the "addictive" design of these platforms, the move does not enact mandatory rules.

"A clear age restriction is a good foundation," commented the parliamentarian driving the resolution.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Eye

In the UK, the administration has not ruled out a potential ban, emphasizing that "no measure is being dismissed" but insisting any policy must be "grounded in strong research".

Last year, momentum grew behind a legislative effort to impose limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually watered down. However, the administration committed to further research the issue.

Charities have expressed warnings. A prominent charity founded by the family of a girl who was lost after encountering harmful social media material contends that a simple age ban could fail to protect children and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when teens turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a response to the failure of the Silicon Valley to create tools that are safe and age appropriate for minors," stated a leading peer.

The US: A State-by-State Approach

In the United States, legislation is primarily unfolding at the local level against a backdrop of country-wide inaction.

• Utah mandates adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and limits overnight use.
• Florida has enacted a bill barring those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• Virginia has approved a law limiting minors to a single hour of social media use per day, with any further use dependent on a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also passed measures mandating adult authorization for teenagers to set up social media profiles.

Despite cross-party agreement and proposals from various individuals to copy the Australian path, a US-wide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

Global Outlook

Apart from the West, further states are likewise taking action.

• Malaysia aims to restrict social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has lifted the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

But, world agencies take a more measured position. A major UN agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "might prove counterproductive". The organization points out that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable children and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to improve child safeguards.

While this global conversation evolves, the actions of this nation and others indicate that states globally are less and less prepared to delay for platforms to make changes on their own.