🔗 Share this article

The Australian bold move to ban social networking access for those under 16 is creating waves worldwide. Officials, safety advocates, and parents are watching intently to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Momentum

Throughout Europe, a growing number of nations are considering comparable bans.

• Denmark plans a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM stating that phones and apps are "taking away our children's youth". The policy is expected to be formalized soon.
• The Norwegian government is set to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to shield young people from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is working on a digital ID system to verify the identity and age of social media account holders. The media minister have suggested that an Australian-model ban is "one of the tools under consideration".
• In Spain, the president has urged the legislature to approve a proposal lifting the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has endorsed a related step, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has advised guardians to prevent their children from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has approved a non-binding resolution supporting a ban for minors unless parental consent is granted. Although it highlights of the "compulsive" nature of these platforms, the step does not establish enforceable legislation.

"An effective age restriction is a useful foundation," said a leading MEP supporting the initiative.

Britain: A Watchful Stance

For the United Kingdom, the administration has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "no option is discarded" but stressing any policy must be "based on strong evidence".

Earlier, support grew behind a bill to introduce controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately weakened. However, the administration pledged to further research the topic.

Advocacy groups have voiced warnings. An organization set up by the loved ones of a young person who died after encountering dangerous platform posts suggests that a blanket age ban may not make platforms safer and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of harm when young people turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the inability of the tech sector to build platforms and apps that are secure and suitable for children," stated a prominent online safety campaigner.

The United States: A State-by-State Picture

In the United States, action is largely happening at the regional level due to national stalemate.

• Utah demands parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has signed a law banning children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• Virginia has approved a rule limiting teenagers to a single hour of social media use per day, with additional time needing adult consent.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced measures demanding adult authorization for under-16s to open social media profiles.

Despite cross-party agreement and calls from certain individuals to copy Australia's path, a nationwide ban is currently seen as improbable.

Worldwide Views

Apart from these regions, additional states are likewise considering moves.

• The Malaysian government aims to prohibit social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
• Brazil has raised the access age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, international bodies adopt a more measured stance. The UN children's agency has warned that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "might have unintended consequences". The body highlights that social networks can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable youth and that government action should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to improve safety.

While this international conversation continues, the actions of the Australian government and several other countries show that states internationally are increasingly prepared to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.