The nation's decisive action to prohibit social networking access for young people below 16 is creating waves around the globe. Politicians, campaigners, and guardians are watching intently to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.
European Movement
Across Europe, a increasing number of nations are exploring similar bans.
- The Danish government plans a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister stating that phones and networks are "stealing our kids' youth". A law is expected to be enacted in the coming year.
- Norway is planning to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to protect the young from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
- Ireland is working on a digital ID system to verify the user details of social media users. Officials have stated that an Australia-style ban is "one of the measures in reserve".
- In The Spanish government, the prime minister has called on lawmakers to pass a proposal raising the minimum age for using social media to 16.
- In France, the president has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a related action, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The authorities in the Netherlands has recommended guardians to block their kids from social media up to the age of 15.
At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has adopted a non-binding resolution demanding a ban for minors except if a parent decides otherwise is provided. While it cautions of the "compulsive" nature of these platforms, the step does not create binding law.
"An effective age barrier is a useful first step," said one MEP driving the initiative.
The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Stance
Across Britain, the administration has remained open to a possible ban, stating that "nothing is discarded" but stressing any policy must be "grounded in strong research".
Previously, momentum built behind a bill to introduce restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end weakened. Nonetheless, the administration pledged to investigate the matter.
Advocacy groups have expressed apprehensions. A prominent charity established by the relatives of a girl who took her own life after encountering disturbing social media material suggests that a blanket age ban could fail to protect children and could create a "dangerous transition" of exposure when teens become eligible.
"Australia's ban is a reaction to the inability of the social media companies to build products and services that are secure and age appropriate for minors," commented a prominent peer.
America: A Fragmented Picture
In the United States, legislation is largely happening at the regional level due to federal gridlock.
- Utah demands adult approval for minors to use social media and restricts late-night use.
- Florida has passed a measure barring those below 14 from accessing social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
- Virginia has enacted a law capping minors to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with additional time dependent on parental permission.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced measures requiring guardian approval for teenagers to set up social media profiles.
Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from some individuals to copy the Australian example, a federal ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.
Global Views
Outside of Europe and the US, further nations are similarly taking action.
- Malaysia intends to restrict social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
- Brazil has raised the required age for Instagram to 16.
However, world agencies strike a more measured tone. A major UN agency has warned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even have unintended consequences". The body points out that social networks can be a "critical link" for vulnerable youth and that bans should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to prioritize user protection.
Even as this international discussion unfolds, the actions of the Australian government and others demonstrate that governments globally are less and less content to delay for platforms to make changes on their own.
