🔗 Share this article

The nation's decisive move to ban social platforms access for young people below 16 is sparking debate internationally. Officials, campaigners, and guardians are watching closely to see if this approach will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

European Momentum

Across Europe, a rising chorus of states are moving toward parallel bans.

• The Danish government has announced a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the leader stating that mobile devices and networks are "taking away our children's innocence". The policy could be enacted soon.
• The Norwegian government is set to introduce a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to shield young people from the "power of the algorithms".
• Ireland is developing a online verification tool to verify the identity and age of social media account holders. The media minister have stated that an similar ban remains "an options under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the president has asked parliament to enact a proposal lifting the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has recommended a similar move, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has urged families to block their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has adopted a advisory motion calling for a ban for under-16s except if parental consent is given. Although it cautions of the "addictive" nature of these apps, the step does not enact mandatory rules.

"A strong age limit is a useful starting point," said a leading European lawmaker driving the resolution.

Britain: A Watchful Eye

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has kept open a possible ban, stating that "no option is off the table" but maintaining any decision must be "based on conclusive evidence".

Last year, support grew behind a bill to introduce limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end watered down. However, the government vowed to investigate the topic.

Campaign organizations have voiced concerns. One foundation founded by the loved ones of a girl who took her own life after viewing harmful platform posts suggests that a simple age ban may not improve online safety and could result in a "dangerous transition" of exposure when teens become eligible.

"This ban is a reaction to the failure of the Silicon Valley to design products and services that are secure and fit for children," stated a influential child protection advocate.

The US: A Fragmented Approach

Stateside, regulation is primarily unfolding at the local government level against a backdrop of national gridlock.

• The state of Utah requires guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and limits overnight use.
• Florida has signed a law barring under-14s from joining social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• Virginia has approved a law capping teenagers to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with any further use needing a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced bills requiring guardian approval for under-16s to create social media presences.

Despite bipartisan support and proposals from certain figures to follow the Australian example, a US-wide ban is presently seen as improbable.

International Outlook

Apart from these regions, further nations are similarly exploring options.

• The Malaysian government intends to ban social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
• Brazil has raised the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, international agencies adopt a more nuanced stance. The UN children's agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "could prove counterproductive". The body notes that the internet can be a "vital connection" for marginalized young people and that bans should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to prioritize child safeguards.

While this international discussion unfolds, the actions of this nation and several other countries indicate that states internationally are increasingly prepared to delay for tech companies to make changes on their own.