The nation's bold policy to prohibit social media access for those under 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and parents are watching closely to see if this strategy will set a precedent for the rest of the world.
European Momentum
In Europe, a growing chorus of countries are considering parallel measures.
- The Danish government plans a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM stating that phones and platforms are "robbing our kids' innocence". The policy could be formalized in the coming year.
- The Norwegian government is planning to implement a age restriction of 15, citing the need to safeguard children from the "power of the AI".
- Ireland is working on a online verification tool to verify the age and identity of social media participants. The media minister have suggested that an Australian-model ban remains "one of the options under consideration".
- In Spain, the president has urged the legislature to approve a proposal lifting the access age for accessing social media to 16.
- In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has suggested a related action, including an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
- The authorities in The Netherlands has advised parents to restrict their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.
For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has passed a advisory resolution demanding a ban for under-16s unless a parent decides otherwise is provided. While it warns of the "compulsive" nature of these services, the step does not establish mandatory rules.
"An effective age restriction is a solid first step," commented a leading European lawmaker supporting the resolution.
Britain: A Cautious Stance
For the United Kingdom, the leadership has remained open to a future ban, arguing that "nothing is discarded" but insisting any action must be "based on strong data".
Last year, momentum built behind a legislative effort to introduce limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually weakened. Instead, the administration vowed to conduct more studies the matter.
Campaign organizations have raised concerns. A prominent charity set up by the family of a young person who took her own life after being exposed to harmful social media material argues that a blanket age ban could fail to improve online safety and could create a "cliff edge" of risk when young people become eligible.
"This ban is a reaction to the inability of the tech sector to build products and services that are secure and suitable for young users," commented a prominent online safety campaigner.
The United States: A Decentralized Picture
In the United States, action is largely occurring at the local government level against a backdrop of country-wide inaction.
- Utah requires guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and controls overnight use.
- The state of Florida has enacted a law banning under-14s from joining social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
- Virginia has approved a rule capping teenagers to a single hour of social media time per day, with extra time requiring parental permission.
- Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly passed bills demanding guardian approval for teenagers to open social media presences.
Despite cross-party agreement and calls from some politicians to copy this path, a federal ban is presently seen as improbable.
International Perspectives
Outside of Europe and the US, further countries are likewise taking action.
- Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for under-16s beginning next year.
- The Brazilian authorities has raised the minimum age for Instagram to 16.
However, international agencies adopt a more cautious stance. A major UN agency has advised that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "may even have unintended consequences". The organization notes that social networks can be a "vital connection" for isolated young people and that bans should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to prioritize user protection.
Even as this international discussion unfolds, the policies of this nation and several other countries indicate that policymakers internationally are no longer content to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.
