Could Other Countries Emulate Australia's Lead in Prohibiting Online Networks for Under-16s?

Australia's controversial action to ban social media access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves worldwide. Officials, campaigners, and parents are monitoring intently to see if this approach will set a precedent for other nations.

The European Trend

Throughout Europe, a rising number of states are considering similar measures.

• Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM stating that phones and platforms are "robbing our kids' innocence". The policy is expected to be formalized in the coming year.
• Norway is planning to implement a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to shield young people from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is introducing a online verification tool to verify the age and identity of social media account holders. Officials have stated that an similar ban remains "one of the measures under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has asked the legislature to approve a proposal raising the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a similar step, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The administration in The Dutch government has advised parents to block their children from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has adopted a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for minors except if a parent decides otherwise is granted. Even though it highlights of the "addictive" design of these services, the move does not establish mandatory rules.

"An effective age restriction is a useful starting point," said a leading European lawmaker driving the resolution.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the administration has kept open a possible ban, emphasizing that "nothing is off the table" but insisting any policy must be "based on strong evidence".

Previously, interest gathered behind a proposal to introduce limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end modified. However, the administration vowed to investigate the matter.

Charities have expressed warnings. A prominent charity set up by the loved ones of a teenager who took her own life after viewing harmful social media material argues that a blanket age ban could fail to improve online safety and could lead to a "cliff edge" of harm when young people reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the inability of the tech sector to design tools that are safe and fit for minors," said a prominent online safety campaigner.

The US: A State-by-State Landscape

Across America, legislation is primarily unfolding at the state level against a backdrop of national gridlock.

• The state of Utah requires parental consent for under-18s to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• Florida has signed a measure barring those below 14 from accessing social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• Virginia has approved a law restricting minors to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with extra time requiring parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise introduced measures requiring parental consent for minors to set up social media profiles.

Despite cross-party agreement and calls from certain politicians to copy the Australian lead, a US-wide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Perspectives

Outside of the West, additional nations are likewise taking action.

• The Malaysian government intends to prohibit social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
• Brazil has lifted the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

However, world bodies take a more measured stance. A major UN agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "could backfire". The organization highlights that social networks can be a "vital connection" for marginalized youth and that bans should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to invest in user protection.

Even as this worldwide debate evolves, the steps of this nation and others demonstrate that governments internationally are less and less willing to delay for tech companies to make changes on their own.