Will Other Countries Pursue Australia's Example in Banning Social Platforms for Youth Under Sixteen?

The Australian decisive policy to restrict social networking access for those under 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Officials, safety advocates, and parents are monitoring with great interest to see if this tactic will become a template for countries abroad.

European Trend

Throughout Europe, a rising group of nations are exploring similar bans.

• The Danish government has announced a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister stating that phones and networks are "stealing our kids' youth". The policy may be passed next year.
• The Norwegian government is set to enforce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to protect young people from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the age and identity of social media participants. The media minister have stated that an Australian-model ban remains "a potential measures on the table".
• In Spain, the president has asked lawmakers to enact a proposal lifting the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a related step, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has urged parents to prevent their children from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the EU parliament has passed a non-binding motion calling for a ban for minors unless parental consent is granted. Although it cautions of the "addictive" quality of these apps, the step does not create binding law.

"A clear age restriction is a solid starting point," commented the parliamentarian behind the measure.

The United Kingdom: A Watchful Stance

Across Britain, the leadership has kept open a future ban, arguing that "no option is being dismissed" but maintaining any policy must be "grounded in strong research".

Last year, support grew behind a bill to enact controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually weakened. Instead, the administration pledged to conduct more studies the issue.

Charities have expressed warnings. A prominent charity set up by the family of a young person who took her own life after viewing dangerous social media material contends that a simple age ban may not improve online safety and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of risk when young people reach the legal age.

"This ban is a reaction to the refusal of the social media companies to design tools that are safe and age appropriate for minors," stated a leading peer.

The United States: A Decentralized Picture

Across America, legislation is mostly unfolding at the regional level against a backdrop of national inaction.

• The state of Utah requires parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and limits overnight use.
• Florida has passed a bill barring those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• Virginia has enacted a rule capping teenagers to a single hour of social media time per day, with any further time dependent on a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also passed bills mandating parental consent for teenagers to create social media presences.

Even with bipartisan support and proposals from certain politicians to copy this example, a nationwide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

Global Outlook

Outside of these regions, other nations are likewise exploring options.

• The Malaysian government intends to ban social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has increased the access age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, international organizations take a more nuanced tone. The UN children's agency has advised that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "may even prove counterproductive". The body points out that social networks can be a "lifeline" for marginalized youth and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to improve child safeguards.

Even as this global conversation continues, the policies of Australia and its followers indicate that policymakers around the world are no longer content to wait for the industry to self-regulate.