The Australian controversial move to restrict social networking access for those under 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and guardians are watching with great interest to see if this approach will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.
European Trend
Across Europe, a increasing group of nations are considering similar measures.
- Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister declaring that mobile devices and apps are "stealing our kids' childhood". The policy could be enacted next year.
- Norway is preparing to implement a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to protect young people from the "power of the algorithms".
- Ireland is introducing a digital wallet to authenticate the age and identity of social media users. Officials have indicated that an similar ban could be "a potential measures on the table".
- In Spain, the prime minister has called on the legislature to pass a proposal increasing the legal age for joining social media to 16.
- In The French government, the president has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has suggested a comparable action, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
- The administration in The Dutch government has advised guardians to block their kids from social media up to the age of 15.
At the EU level, the European parliament has passed a advisory statement calling for a ban for under-16s unless parental consent is provided. While it cautions of the "compulsive" design of these platforms, the step does not establish mandatory rules.
"A clear age limit is a solid starting point," said one MEP supporting the initiative.
The United Kingdom: A Watchful Stance
For the United Kingdom, the leadership has remained open to a possible ban, arguing that "no measure is off the table" but insisting any action must be "supported by robust data".
Previously, support grew behind a bill to enact controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end modified. However, the government pledged to further research the matter.
Campaign organizations have voiced apprehensions. A prominent charity founded by the loved ones of a teenager who died after being exposed to harmful online content suggests that a simple age ban may not improve online safety and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of risk when young people turn 16.
"This ban is a response to the failure of the Silicon Valley to design products and services that are secure and fit for children," stated a prominent peer.
The United States: A Fragmented Approach
In the United States, action is largely occurring at the regional government level due to national stalemate.
- Utah requires adult approval for under-18s to use social media and controls nighttime use.
- Florida has enacted a bill prohibiting children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
- Virginia has approved a law capping under-16s to a single hour of social media use per day, with any further time requiring a guardian's okay.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly enacted measures requiring guardian approval for under-16s to create social media presences.
Despite widespread concern and suggestions from certain politicians to mimic this lead, a federal ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.
Worldwide Views
Apart from the West, other nations are also considering moves.
- Malaysia plans to ban social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
- The Brazilian authorities has raised the access age for one major platform to 16.
However, world bodies strike a more measured stance. A major UN agency has advised that social media bans carry risks and "may even have unintended consequences". The agency points out that online platforms can be a "critical link" for vulnerable children and that bans should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to improve safety.
Even as this global conversation unfolds, the policies of the Australian government and others indicate that governments internationally are increasingly prepared to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.
