Australia's decisive action to restrict social media access for young people below 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Politicians, safety advocates, and guardians are monitoring intently to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.
European Movement
In Europe, a growing chorus of states are considering comparable measures.
- The Danish government plans a ban on social media for under-15s, with the leader stating that smartphones and platforms are "stealing our kids' childhood". A law may be passed in the coming year.
- Norway is preparing to implement a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard children from the "influence of the AI".
- Ireland is introducing a digital wallet to confirm the identity and age of social media account holders. Authorities have suggested that an Australian-model ban could be "an measures in reserve".
- In Spain, the leader has asked the legislature to enact a law raising the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
- In France, the president has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has endorsed a related step, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The administration in The Dutch government has advised parents to block their children from social media before 15.
At the EU level, the European parliament has passed a non-binding motion demanding a ban for under-16s without guardian approval is granted. While it cautions of the "compulsive" quality of these platforms, the resolution does not establish binding law.
"A clear age restriction is a solid first step," said one MEP driving the measure.
The United Kingdom: A Cautious Stance
For the United Kingdom, the leadership has not ruled out a possible ban, emphasizing that "no option is being dismissed" but insisting any policy must be "based on strong data".
Last year, support built behind a proposal to introduce restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was eventually modified. Nonetheless, the government committed to investigate the topic.
Charities have expressed warnings. An organization founded by the loved ones of a girl who took her own life after being exposed to harmful online content suggests that a strict age ban may not improve online safety and could create a "dangerous transition" of risk when young people become eligible.
"Australia's ban is a response to the refusal of the tech sector to build products and services that are secure and fit for young users," said a leading online safety campaigner.
America: A Decentralized Landscape
Stateside, action is mostly happening at the regional government level due to country-wide gridlock.
- Utah requires parental consent for under-18s to use social media and controls late-night use.
- The state of Florida has passed a bill prohibiting children under fourteen from joining social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
- Virginia has passed a regulation restricting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with any further time needing adult consent.
- The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also passed bills demanding guardian approval for under-16s to open social media profiles.
Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from certain individuals to follow Australia's path, a US-wide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.
International Outlook
Beyond Europe and the US, further states are also taking action.
- The Malaysian government aims to prohibit social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
- Brazil has raised the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.
However, international agencies adopt a more measured tone. A major UN agency has warned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "could prove counterproductive". The organization highlights that the internet can be a "critical link" for isolated youth and that government action should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to improve safety.
Even as this global conversation unfolds, the steps of this nation and others indicate that governments around the world are increasingly content to delay for the industry to make changes on their own.
