Australia's decisive move to prohibit social platforms access for those under 16 is sparking debate internationally. Lawmakers, campaigners, and guardians are watching with great interest to see if this approach will become a template for countries abroad.
European Trend
In Europe, a rising chorus of nations are moving toward similar restrictions.
- The Danish government has stated a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the leader arguing that phones and apps are "taking away our youngsters' youth". The policy may be enacted next year.
- Norway is preparing to enforce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to protect children from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
- Ireland is developing a online verification tool to confirm the identity and age of social media account holders. Authorities have indicated that an similar ban is "a potential options in reserve".
- In The Spanish government, the leader has called on lawmakers to approve a bill increasing the legal age for joining social media to 16.
- In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has suggested a comparable action, including an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The authorities in the Netherlands has recommended guardians to block their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.
At the EU level, the European parliament has passed a advisory motion supporting a ban for under-16s except if parental consent is provided. While it highlights of the "compulsive" quality of these platforms, the resolution does not enact mandatory rules.
"A clear age limit is a useful first step," commented one MEP behind the initiative.
The United Kingdom: A Watchful Approach
Across Britain, the leadership has remained open to a potential ban, arguing that "no measure is discarded" but maintaining any action must be "supported by robust research".
Previously, momentum grew behind a proposal to introduce limits on social media use by minors, but it was eventually watered down. Instead, the government vowed to conduct more studies the matter.
Charities have raised apprehensions. A prominent charity set up by the family of a teenager who took her own life after being exposed to disturbing social media material contends that a simple age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could lead to a "cliff edge" of harm when young people turn 16.
"The Australian ban is a reaction to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to build platforms and apps that are safe and age appropriate for children," commented a prominent peer.
America: A Decentralized Picture
Stateside, action is largely occurring at the state level amid federal stalemate.
- Utah mandates adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and limits late-night use.
- The state of Florida has passed a measure barring under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
- The state of Virginia has passed a rule limiting minors to a single hour of social media use per day, with any further use needing adult consent.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed laws mandating guardian approval for teenagers to open social media accounts.
Despite widespread concern and proposals from certain politicians to follow the Australian example, a nationwide ban is presently seen as improbable.
International Views
Outside of these regions, further nations are similarly considering moves.
- Malaysia plans to prohibit social media for teenagers starting from next year.
- The Brazilian authorities has raised the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.
However, international organizations take a more cautious tone. Unicef has warned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even have unintended consequences". The agency notes that the internet can be a "critical link" for vulnerable youth and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to prioritize user protection.
As this global conversation evolves, the steps of this nation and several other countries demonstrate that governments internationally are less and less willing to wait for tech companies to self-regulate.
