🔗 Share this article

The nation's controversial move to prohibit social media access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples internationally. Politicians, safety advocates, and families are monitoring closely to see if this tactic will set a precedent for countries abroad.

European Momentum

Across Europe, a growing group of states are exploring parallel restrictions.

• The Danish government has stated a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister stating that mobile devices and networks are "robbing our youngsters' youth". Legislation could be formalized in the coming year.
• Norway is planning to implement a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to protect young people from the "power of the AI".
• The Irish government is developing a digital wallet to confirm the user details of social media users. Officials have indicated that an similar ban could be "one of the options under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the president has urged lawmakers to pass a bill increasing the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a comparable move, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The government in The Netherlands has recommended guardians to restrict their children from social media up to the age of 15.

Across the European Union, the EU parliament has passed a non-binding motion supporting a ban for under-16s except if a parent decides otherwise is provided. Although it warns of the "compulsive" quality of these apps, the resolution does not enact mandatory rules.

"A strong age barrier is a useful starting point," commented one European lawmaker behind the resolution.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Approach

In the UK, the administration has kept open a possible ban, arguing that "nothing is discarded" but insisting any decision must be "supported by robust evidence".

Earlier, interest gathered behind a legislative effort to impose limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately weakened. However, the government vowed to further research the matter.

Advocacy groups have voiced warnings. An organization established by the family of a teenager who was lost after viewing dangerous platform posts suggests that a simple age ban might not improve online safety and could create a "cliff edge" of harm when young people reach the legal age.

"This ban is a response to the failure of the Silicon Valley to create platforms and apps that are secure and fit for minors," stated a influential peer.

America: A Fragmented Picture

Across America, legislation is primarily unfolding at the regional level amid federal gridlock.

• Utah demands guardian permission for minors to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a law barring those below 14 from accessing social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has passed a law limiting under-16s to one hour of social media use per day, with extra access requiring a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed bills requiring parental consent for teenagers to create social media accounts.

Even with widespread concern and calls from various individuals to follow Australia's lead, a nationwide ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Perspectives

Outside of Europe and the US, additional nations are also considering moves.

• The Malaysian government aims to restrict social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• Brazil has lifted the access age for one major platform to 16.

However, world agencies take a more cautious position. A major UN agency has advised that social media bans carry risks and "could prove counterproductive". The body points out that social networks can be a "lifeline" for isolated children and that government action should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to prioritize child safeguards.

Even as this global debate evolves, the actions of this nation and its followers indicate that policymakers internationally are increasingly willing to delay for platforms to self-regulate.