🔗 Share this article

The nation's bold move to ban social platforms access for young people below 16 is creating waves around the globe. Officials, campaigners, and parents are observing intently to see if this strategy will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

European Movement

Across Europe, a growing number of nations are exploring parallel bans.

• Denmark has stated a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister declaring that smartphones and apps are "taking away our children's youth". A law is expected to be enacted in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is planning to implement a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard children from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is introducing a digital ID system to confirm the user details of social media account holders. The media minister have stated that an Australian-model ban is "a potential measures under consideration".
• In Spain, the president has asked the legislature to enact a bill increasing the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has endorsed a related action, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has advised parents to block their kids from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the EU parliament has adopted a advisory motion demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 except if parental consent is given. While it warns of the "compulsive" quality of these platforms, the step does not create mandatory rules.

"A clear age barrier is a good first step," commented the MEP behind the resolution.

The UK: A Watchful Stance

Across Britain, the government has not ruled out a potential ban, stating that "no measure is discarded" but insisting any action must be "grounded in robust data".

Earlier, support built behind a proposal to impose limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end modified. Instead, the government committed to investigate the matter.

Charities have voiced warnings. An organization established by the relatives of a girl who took her own life after viewing disturbing online content suggests that a simple age ban could fail to protect children and could lead to a "cliff edge" of exposure when users reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to build platforms and apps that are safe and suitable for children," stated a leading child protection advocate.

The US: A State-by-State Approach

Across America, regulation is largely occurring at the local government level amid federal gridlock.

• Utah demands adult approval for under-18s to use social media and restricts late-night use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a measure prohibiting under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it faces court battles.
• Virginia has enacted a regulation limiting teenagers to a single hour of social media use per day, with any further use requiring adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced laws mandating parental consent for under-16s to set up social media accounts.

Even with cross-party agreement and calls from certain politicians to follow this lead, a federal ban is currently seen as improbable.

Global Views

Beyond Europe and the US, additional countries are similarly taking action.

• Malaysia aims to restrict social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• Brazil has increased the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, global organizations strike a more measured tone. Unicef has warned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "could have unintended consequences". The agency highlights that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for marginalized young people and that bans should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to improve user protection.

Even as this worldwide conversation unfolds, the policies of this nation and others indicate that governments around the world are no longer willing to stand by for platforms to act voluntarily.