The nation's decisive policy to restrict social networking access for young people below 16 is sparking debate worldwide. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and parents are monitoring intently to see if this approach will become a template for other nations.
European Momentum
Throughout Europe, a rising chorus of states are considering comparable measures.
- Denmark plans a ban on social media for under-15s, with the PM declaring that phones and networks are "taking away our kids' innocence". Legislation could be enacted in the coming year.
- Norway is planning to introduce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to shield young people from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
- The Irish government is working on a digital wallet to verify the user details of social media participants. Authorities have indicated that an Australian-model ban is "one of the options under consideration".
- In Spain, the president has asked lawmakers to pass a law raising the legal age for joining social media to 16.
- In The French government, the head of state has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a related move, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
- The authorities in the Netherlands has urged parents to prevent their youngsters from social media before 15.
At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has adopted a non-binding statement supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 except if guardian approval is given. While it cautions of the "addictive" design of these platforms, the step does not create mandatory rules.
"A clear age barrier is a solid starting point," said a leading European lawmaker supporting the measure.
The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Eye
Across Britain, the administration has not ruled out a possible ban, stating that "nothing is discarded" but maintaining any action must be "based on conclusive data".
Last year, support built behind a proposal to enact restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately weakened. Instead, the administration pledged to investigate the matter.
Campaign organizations have raised apprehensions. A prominent charity founded by the family of a young person who died after viewing dangerous platform posts suggests that a blanket age ban may not protect children and could lead to a "cliff edge" of risk when young people become eligible.
"This ban is a reaction to the failure of the tech sector to create products and services that are safe and fit for young users," commented a leading online safety campaigner.
The US: A Fragmented Landscape
In the United States, action is mostly unfolding at the regional government level due to federal stalemate.
- Utah requires guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and limits late-night use.
- Florida has signed a law banning under-14s from joining social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
- The state of Virginia has passed a law capping minors to one hour of social media time per day, with additional use needing a guardian's okay.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise enacted measures mandating parental consent for minors to set up social media profiles.
Despite widespread concern and calls from various figures to copy the Australian lead, a nationwide ban is right now seen as improbable.
International Views
Outside of Europe and the US, other nations are also exploring options.
- Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for under-16s effective next year.
- Brazil has raised the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.
However, international organizations adopt a more measured tone. A major UN agency has warned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "could prove counterproductive". The agency notes that the internet can be a "critical link" for isolated children and that government action should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to invest in user protection.
While this international debate unfolds, the actions of the Australian government and its followers show that governments around the world are less and less prepared to wait for tech companies to self-regulate.
