The nation's controversial policy to restrict social media access for young people below 16 is creating waves internationally. Politicians, campaigners, and parents are monitoring closely to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.
European Momentum
Throughout Europe, a rising chorus of nations are moving toward parallel restrictions.
- Denmark has announced a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the PM declaring that phones and platforms are "stealing our kids' youth". A law could be formalized soon.
- The Norwegian government is preparing to implement a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to protect young people from the "power of the recommendation systems".
- The Irish government is introducing a digital ID system to authenticate the identity and age of social media users. Officials have suggested that an similar ban is "one of the measures on the table".
- In Spain, the president has urged parliament to approve a bill raising the legal age for joining social media to 16.
- In The French government, the president has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has suggested a comparable move, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The authorities in The Netherlands has recommended parents to prevent their children from social media up to the age of 15.
For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has passed a non-binding motion demanding a ban for under-16s except if guardian approval is granted. Even though it warns of the "compulsive" quality of these platforms, the move does not establish enforceable legislation.
"A clear age barrier is a useful starting point," said a leading MEP behind the measure.
The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Eye
For the United Kingdom, the administration has remained open to a potential ban, stating that "no option is being dismissed" but insisting any action must be "based on robust data".
Last year, support grew behind a proposal to enact limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually modified. Nonetheless, the administration vowed to investigate the issue.
Advocacy groups have raised apprehensions. A prominent charity founded by the relatives of a teenager who died after being exposed to dangerous online content contends that a blanket age ban might not make platforms safer and could create a "dangerous transition" of harm when users reach the legal age.
"Australia's ban is a reaction to the inability of the social media companies to create platforms and apps that are appropriate and fit for minors," stated a influential peer.
The United States: A Decentralized Landscape
In the United States, legislation is primarily unfolding at the regional government level against a backdrop of national inaction.
- Utah demands guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and controls overnight use.
- The state of Florida has passed a law barring children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
- The state of Virginia has approved a rule capping teenagers to a single hour of social media access per day, with any further use requiring adult consent.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced laws demanding guardian approval for minors to set up social media profiles.
Even with widespread concern and calls from certain individuals to copy this path, a US-wide ban is presently seen as improbable.
Global Outlook
Apart from the West, other nations are similarly exploring options.
- Malaysia plans to prohibit social media for under-16s starting from next year.
- Brazil has lifted the minimum age for Instagram to 16.
But, global organizations adopt a more cautious stance. A major UN agency has warned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "may even have unintended consequences". The organization highlights that social networks can be a "critical link" for vulnerable youth and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to invest in safety.
While this global conversation evolves, the policies of this nation and others indicate that policymakers globally are increasingly prepared to stand by for platforms to make changes on their own.
