The Australian controversial move to prohibit social networking access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples internationally. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and families are watching intently to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.
European Movement
In Europe, a growing group of countries are considering parallel bans.
- Denmark plans a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader stating that phones and platforms are "taking away our youngsters' innocence". The policy may be enacted soon.
- The Norwegian government is preparing to implement a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to protect the young from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
- Ireland is developing a digital wallet to confirm the identity and age of social media participants. Authorities have indicated that an Australian-model ban is "an tools in reserve".
- In Spain, the leader has asked lawmakers to pass a law raising the legal age for joining social media to 16.
- In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a related step, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
- The government in The Netherlands has recommended parents to restrict their youngsters from social media before 15.
At the EU level, the European parliament has approved a symbolic motion supporting a ban for under-16s without a parent decides otherwise is given. Even though it cautions of the "compulsive" design of these apps, the resolution does not create binding law.
"An effective age limit is a solid starting point," stated one parliamentarian driving the resolution.
The United Kingdom: A Watchful Stance
For the United Kingdom, the government has kept open a potential ban, stating that "no option is off the table" but insisting any policy must be "supported by conclusive evidence".
Last year, momentum gathered behind a bill to enact controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end watered down. Nonetheless, the administration committed to further research the topic.
Advocacy groups have expressed apprehensions. One foundation founded by the loved ones of a young person who took her own life after being exposed to harmful social media material suggests that a blanket age ban might not improve online safety and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of exposure when teens turn 16.
"This ban is a answer to the inability of the social media companies to design platforms and apps that are safe and suitable for minors," commented a influential child protection advocate.
The US: A Fragmented Picture
Across America, legislation is largely occurring at the local level due to federal gridlock.
- The state of Utah requires guardian permission for minors to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
- Florida has signed a law prohibiting those below 14 from joining social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
- The state of Virginia has enacted a law restricting teenagers to a single hour of social media use per day, with extra access needing parental permission.
- The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed laws demanding adult authorization for teenagers to create social media accounts.
Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from certain politicians to follow Australia's path, a nationwide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.
Global Views
Apart from the West, other countries are also taking action.
- Malaysia aims to ban social media for teenagers beginning next year.
- Brazil has increased the required age for one major platform to 16.
However, world agencies take a more measured stance. The UN children's agency has warned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "could prove counterproductive". The body notes that online platforms can be a "critical link" for vulnerable youth and that government action should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to improve safety.
As this worldwide discussion evolves, the steps of Australia and its followers show that policymakers globally are increasingly prepared to stand by for tech companies to make changes on their own.