🔗 Share this article

The nation's decisive move to restrict social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples around the globe. Officials, campaigners, and parents are monitoring intently to see if this tactic will become a template for other nations.

Across Europe Momentum

Across Europe, a increasing group of countries are exploring similar restrictions.

• Denmark has stated a ban on social media for under-15s, with the PM arguing that smartphones and platforms are "robbing our children's youth". The policy may be enacted soon.
• The Norwegian government is planning to enforce a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard young people from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is developing a digital wallet to authenticate the identity and age of social media account holders. Officials have stated that an Australia-style ban is "one of the measures under consideration".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged the legislature to approve a proposal raising the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has recommended a related move, including an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The government in The Dutch government has recommended families to prevent their children from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the EU parliament has approved a advisory motion supporting a ban for minors except if guardian approval is given. Although it warns of the "compulsive" nature of these platforms, the resolution does not establish binding law.

"A clear age limit is a solid starting point," said one MEP driving the resolution.

Britain: A Watchful Eye

Across Britain, the administration has not ruled out a future ban, arguing that "nothing is discarded" but insisting any decision must be "based on conclusive research".

Last year, support built behind a legislative effort to introduce limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end modified. Instead, the government pledged to further research the issue.

Campaign organizations have voiced concerns. A prominent charity established by the loved ones of a girl who was lost after viewing harmful platform posts suggests that a blanket age ban might not protect children and could create a "sudden drop-off" of harm when young people reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a answer to the inability of the social media companies to create products and services that are safe and suitable for children," said a leading peer.

The United States: A State-by-State Picture

In the United States, legislation is mostly unfolding at the regional government level against a backdrop of federal inaction.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for minors to use social media and restricts late-night use.
• Florida has passed a bill barring children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has approved a rule limiting teenagers to a single hour of social media use per day, with additional use dependent on adult consent.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise enacted measures mandating parental consent for under-16s to set up social media accounts.

Even with widespread concern and suggestions from some politicians to follow this path, a nationwide ban is currently seen as improbable.

Worldwide Views

Outside of Europe and the US, additional countries are likewise exploring options.

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

But, international bodies strike a more nuanced tone. Unicef has warned that social media bans pose dangers and "may even have unintended consequences". The agency notes that social networks can be a "vital connection" for isolated young people and that bans should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to improve child safeguards.

While this worldwide discussion unfolds, the actions of this nation and its followers indicate that states globally are no longer prepared to stand by for tech companies to make changes on their own.