The nation's bold move to ban social media access for those under 16 is creating waves internationally. Politicians, campaigners, and guardians are observing with great interest to see if this approach will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.
Across Europe Trend
Across Europe, a increasing number of countries are moving toward comparable measures.
- Denmark has stated a ban on social media for under-15s, with the leader declaring that mobile devices and apps are "robbing our kids' childhood". Legislation could be enacted in the coming year.
- Norway is set to implement a access barrier of 15, citing the need to safeguard children from the "manipulative force of the AI".
- Ireland is working on a digital wallet to confirm the age and identity of social media users. The media minister have suggested that an Australian-model ban remains "an tools in reserve".
- In The Spanish government, the president has asked parliament to pass a bill raising the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
- In France, the head of state has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has suggested a comparable action, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
- The authorities in The Netherlands has urged guardians to restrict their children from social media until 15.
At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has passed a non-binding motion supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 unless guardian approval is provided. While it cautions of the "habit-forming" nature of these apps, the step does not establish binding law.
"A clear age barrier is a useful foundation," said one MEP behind the resolution.
The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Approach
Across Britain, the administration has remained open to a potential ban, stating that "no option is discarded" but maintaining any decision must be "grounded in strong evidence".
Last year, momentum grew behind a bill to impose restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately weakened. However, the government committed to further research the matter.
Campaign organizations have raised warnings. A prominent charity established by the loved ones of a girl who died after viewing harmful social media material argues that a blanket age ban could fail to improve online safety and could result in a "dangerous transition" of exposure when young people turn 16.
"Australia's ban is a response to the inability of the social media companies to design tools that are secure and age appropriate for young users," said a prominent online safety campaigner.
The United States: A State-by-State Landscape
Stateside, regulation is largely occurring at the regional level amid federal gridlock.
- Utah requires guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and restricts late-night use.
- Florida has signed a law barring children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it faces legal challenges.
- Virginia has passed a regulation limiting teenagers to one hour of social media use per day, with extra time requiring adult consent.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise introduced measures mandating parental consent for teenagers to create social media presences.
Despite cross-party agreement and suggestions from various figures to follow the Australian example, a US-wide ban is presently seen as unlikely.
Worldwide Views
Apart from Europe and the US, further countries are similarly exploring options.
- The Malaysian government aims to prohibit social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
- The Brazilian authorities has raised the minimum age for one major platform to 16.
Yet, international organizations adopt a more nuanced tone. A major UN agency has advised that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "may even prove counterproductive". The organization highlights that the internet can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable children and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to improve safety.
While this worldwide conversation unfolds, the policies of the Australian government and several other countries indicate that policymakers internationally are increasingly willing to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.
