The nation's bold policy to restrict social media access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Officials, campaigners, and parents are monitoring closely to see if this approach will become a template for countries abroad.
The European Movement
In Europe, a growing number of nations are exploring parallel bans.
- Denmark plans a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the PM stating that mobile devices and apps are "robbing our children's innocence". The policy is expected to be passed in the coming year.
- The Norwegian government is set to implement a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to protect young people from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
- The Irish government is developing a digital wallet to verify the identity and age of social media participants. Officials have indicated that an Australian-model ban could be "one of the options on the table".
- In The Spanish government, the leader has urged lawmakers to pass a law lifting the access age for joining social media to 16.
- In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a similar move, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
- The administration in The Dutch government has urged guardians to block their children from social media up to the age of 15.
Across the European Union, the EU parliament has approved a advisory motion demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 except if parental consent is given. While it warns of the "habit-forming" quality of these apps, the resolution does not enact mandatory rules.
"A strong age restriction is a good first step," said a leading parliamentarian supporting the resolution.
The UK: A Cautious Approach
For the United Kingdom, the leadership has kept open a potential ban, stating that "no measure is discarded" but maintaining any policy must be "supported by strong evidence".
Previously, interest gathered behind a proposal to enact controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end modified. Instead, the government committed to further research the matter.
Campaign organizations have voiced concerns. One foundation established by the family of a teenager who died after viewing disturbing platform posts contends that a simple age ban could fail to improve online safety and could create a "dangerous transition" of risk when teens become eligible.
"Australia's ban is a response to the refusal of the tech sector to design platforms and apps that are secure and fit for children," commented a leading online safety campaigner.
The United States: A State-by-State Approach
In the United States, action is mostly occurring at the state government level amid country-wide inaction.
- The state of Utah demands adult approval for under-18s to use social media and restricts late-night use.
- Florida has signed a bill banning children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it faces court battles.
- Virginia has passed a law restricting minors to one hour of social media access per day, with any further time requiring a guardian's okay.
- The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also passed bills demanding parental consent for minors to create social media accounts.
Despite cross-party agreement and proposals from some politicians to copy the Australian example, a federal ban is currently seen as improbable.
Global Views
Apart from Europe and the US, other states are also taking action.
- The Malaysian government aims to ban social media for teenagers beginning next year.
- Brazil has increased the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.
But, world bodies adopt a more measured position. The UN children's agency has warned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "could have unintended consequences". The body notes that online platforms can be a "critical link" for marginalized young people and that government action should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to invest in safety.
Even as this worldwide debate unfolds, the policies of this nation and its followers demonstrate that states globally are less and less content to wait for the industry to act voluntarily.
