The Australian bold move to prohibit social networking access for those under 16 is creating waves internationally. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and guardians are observing with great interest to see if this tactic will set a precedent for other nations.
Across Europe Momentum
In Europe, a rising group of countries are moving toward parallel measures.
- The Danish government has stated a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister stating that mobile devices and apps are "taking away our kids' childhood". The policy could be formalized next year.
- The Norwegian government is planning to enforce a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to protect children from the "power of the algorithms".
- The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to verify the identity and age of social media users. The media minister have suggested that an Australian-model ban is "one of the options under consideration".
- In Spain, the prime minister has asked the legislature to approve a bill raising the access age for accessing social media to 16.
- In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a comparable action, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
- The authorities in the Netherlands has recommended parents to prevent their youngsters from social media until 15.
For the broader EU, the European parliament has passed a advisory resolution calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 unless parental consent is provided. While it highlights of the "habit-forming" quality of these apps, the step does not create mandatory rules.
"A strong age limit is a good first step," stated one MEP supporting the resolution.
Britain: A Watchful Eye
For the United Kingdom, the administration has not ruled out a future ban, arguing that "nothing is off the table" but stressing any decision must be "grounded in strong evidence".
Earlier, momentum built behind a legislative effort to enact restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end watered down. Nonetheless, the administration committed to investigate the matter.
Advocacy groups have voiced apprehensions. An organization founded by the relatives of a young person who was lost after viewing harmful social media material suggests that a strict age ban might not protect children and could create a "cliff edge" of exposure when teens turn 16.
"This ban is a reaction to the refusal of the social media companies to design platforms and apps that are appropriate and suitable for minors," said a influential peer.
America: A Fragmented Picture
In the United States, regulation is largely occurring at the regional level against a backdrop of country-wide stalemate.
- Utah mandates guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and limits late-night use.
- Florida has passed a measure barring children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it faces court battles.
- Virginia has enacted a regulation capping minors to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with extra use needing parental permission.
- Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise introduced laws demanding adult authorization for under-16s to set up social media profiles.
Even with cross-party agreement and calls from various politicians to follow this example, a US-wide ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.
International Perspectives
Apart from these regions, additional countries are likewise taking action.
- Malaysia aims to ban social media for teenagers effective next year.
- The Brazilian authorities has raised the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.
However, global agencies strike a more nuanced tone. Unicef has cautioned that social media bans pose dangers and "could backfire". The agency notes that online platforms can be a "critical link" for vulnerable children and that bans should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to improve child safeguards.
As this worldwide discussion evolves, the steps of the Australian government and others demonstrate that policymakers globally are less and less content to stand by for the industry to act voluntarily.
