The nation's bold action to prohibit social networking access for young people below 16 is creating waves internationally. Lawmakers, campaigners, and parents are monitoring intently to see if this tactic will become a template for countries abroad.
The European Movement
Across Europe, a rising chorus of states are exploring parallel measures.
- The Danish government has stated a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister stating that phones and apps are "stealing our youngsters' childhood". Legislation is expected to be passed soon.
- Norway is set to enforce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to protect young people from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
- Ireland is working on a online verification tool to authenticate the user details of social media account holders. The media minister have indicated that an Australian-model ban could be "a potential measures on the table".
- In Spain, the prime minister has urged lawmakers to approve a law raising the legal age for joining social media to 16.
- In France, the leader has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a similar action, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
- The authorities in The Dutch government has recommended families to restrict their kids from social media up to the age of 15.
Across the European Union, the European parliament has adopted a non-binding resolution supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 except if guardian approval is provided. Although it highlights of the "compulsive" design of these apps, the step does not enact enforceable legislation.
"A strong age barrier is a good starting point," stated the parliamentarian behind the measure.
Britain: A Watchful Eye
In the UK, the leadership has kept open a potential ban, emphasizing that "no measure is discarded" but maintaining any policy must be "supported by robust data".
Earlier, momentum built behind a legislative effort to enact controls on social media use by minors, but it was eventually weakened. Instead, the administration vowed to further research the issue.
Advocacy groups have raised apprehensions. A prominent charity founded by the family of a young person who was lost after being exposed to harmful social media material argues that a strict age ban may not improve online safety and could create a "sudden drop-off" of risk when young people become eligible.
"This ban is a reaction to the inability of the Silicon Valley to create products and services that are safe and age appropriate for children," said a prominent peer.
America: A Decentralized Approach
Across America, legislation is primarily occurring at the state level due to country-wide gridlock.
- The state of Utah demands adult approval for minors to use social media and controls late-night use.
- The state of Florida has signed a bill banning under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
- Virginia has passed a regulation restricting minors to one hour of social media time per day, with any further time needing adult consent.
- Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also introduced laws demanding adult authorization for teenagers to create social media accounts.
Even with widespread concern and calls from certain politicians to mimic this lead, a federal ban is currently seen as unlikely.
International Views
Beyond Europe and the US, other nations are likewise exploring options.
- Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
- Brazil has raised the access age for one major platform to 16.
But, international bodies adopt a more cautious position. Unicef has cautioned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "could prove counterproductive". The organization notes that social networks can be a "lifeline" for isolated youth and that government action should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to improve user protection.
Even as this global debate unfolds, the steps of this nation and several other countries demonstrate that governments internationally are less and less willing to stand by for the industry to make changes on their own.
