The Australian decisive action to ban social networking access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples around the globe. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and guardians are monitoring with great interest to see if this tactic will become a template for the rest of the world.
The European Momentum
Throughout Europe, a rising chorus of nations are exploring similar measures.
- The Danish government has stated a ban on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister declaring that mobile devices and networks are "taking away our youngsters' innocence". A law is expected to be enacted soon.
- The Norwegian government is preparing to implement a access barrier of 15, citing the need to safeguard children from the "power of the AI".
- The Irish government is working on a online verification tool to verify the identity and age of social media participants. Authorities have indicated that an Australian-model ban is "a potential tools under consideration".
- In The Spanish government, the leader has urged the legislature to approve a law increasing the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
- In France, the leader has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has suggested a related action, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The authorities in The Dutch government has recommended parents to prevent their kids from social media before 15.
Across the European Union, the European parliament has approved a advisory motion calling for a ban for under-16s unless a parent decides otherwise is granted. Even though it cautions of the "compulsive" quality of these platforms, the resolution does not create binding law.
"A clear age limit is a useful foundation," stated the MEP driving the measure.
The UK: An Evidence-Based Approach
For the United Kingdom, the administration has not ruled out a future ban, stating that "no measure is discarded" but insisting any action must be "grounded in robust data".
Earlier, interest grew behind a legislative effort to enact controls on social media use by minors, but it was in the end watered down. Nonetheless, the government pledged to conduct more studies the issue.
Advocacy groups have expressed concerns. One foundation founded by the family of a girl who died after being exposed to dangerous social media material suggests that a blanket age ban might not make platforms safer and could result in a "cliff edge" of harm when users turn 16.
"The Australian ban is a reaction to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to build tools that are secure and age appropriate for young users," commented a prominent child protection advocate.
The US: A Fragmented Landscape
Stateside, action is primarily occurring at the local government level amid country-wide stalemate.
- The state of Utah demands parental consent for minors to use social media and limits overnight use.
- Florida has enacted a measure banning those below 14 from accessing social media, though it faces legal challenges.
- Virginia has passed a regulation restricting minors to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with any further time dependent on adult consent.
- The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed bills requiring parental consent for under-16s to open social media profiles.
Despite cross-party agreement and proposals from various figures to mimic Australia's example, a federal ban is right now seen as improbable.
International Outlook
Outside of these regions, other countries are also considering moves.
- Malaysia plans to prohibit social media for under-16s starting from next year.
- The Brazilian authorities has raised the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.
But, international bodies strike a more nuanced position. Unicef has cautioned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "might backfire". The organization points out that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable young people and that bans should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to improve user protection.
Even as this worldwide discussion evolves, the actions of this nation and its followers show that governments around the world are increasingly willing to delay for tech companies to make changes on their own.
