The nation's decisive action to prohibit social networking access for those under 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Officials, campaigners, and guardians are watching intently to see if this strategy will set a precedent for countries abroad.
Across Europe Movement
Throughout Europe, a increasing group of countries are considering parallel restrictions.
- Denmark plans a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the PM stating that phones and apps are "stealing our youngsters' childhood". Legislation may be enacted in the coming year.
- Norway is set to introduce a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to shield children from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
- The Irish government is introducing a online verification tool to verify the age and identity of social media users. The media minister have indicated that an Australian-model ban remains "an options under consideration".
- In Spain, the leader has urged parliament to pass a proposal lifting the minimum age for using social media to 16.
- In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has recommended a similar step, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
- The government in the Netherlands has urged families to restrict their children from social media until 15.
For the broader EU, the European parliament has passed a advisory resolution demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 except if guardian approval is given. While it highlights of the "addictive" quality of these services, the step does not create binding law.
"A clear age restriction is a good starting point," stated one MEP supporting the initiative.
Britain: An Evidence-Based Approach
In the UK, the leadership has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "nothing is being dismissed" but stressing any policy must be "supported by robust evidence".
Previously, support gathered behind a bill to enact restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately modified. Instead, the administration pledged to investigate the topic.
Charities have expressed warnings. A prominent charity set up by the loved ones of a teenager who took her own life after being exposed to dangerous online content suggests that a blanket age ban may not make platforms safer and could create a "sudden drop-off" of harm when users turn 16.
"The Australian ban is a answer to the inability of the social media companies to create tools that are appropriate and age appropriate for young users," commented a prominent online safety campaigner.
The United States: A Fragmented Landscape
Stateside, legislation is primarily unfolding at the local level amid country-wide gridlock.
- Utah demands parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and controls nighttime use.
- The state of Florida has signed a law prohibiting under-14s from accessing social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
- The state of Virginia has passed a rule restricting minors to a single hour of social media time per day, with any further access requiring adult consent.
- The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed laws mandating guardian approval for under-16s to open social media accounts.
Despite cross-party agreement and calls from various figures to follow this lead, a US-wide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.
International Views
Outside of the West, further states are also considering moves.
- The Malaysian government aims to prohibit social media for under-16s effective next year.
- Brazil has increased the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.
However, world bodies adopt a more nuanced position. A major UN agency has advised that age-based restrictions have downsides and "might backfire". The agency highlights that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable young people and that bans should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to prioritize child safeguards.
While this international conversation unfolds, the policies of Australia and several other countries show that governments internationally are increasingly content to delay for the industry to self-regulate.
