Global Reactions to Australia's Social Media Ban for Under-16s
On 10 December, Australia implemented a ban on social media use for under-16s, a policy that is now being closely monitored worldwide.
Several countries are considering or adopting similar measures: Denmark plans to ban under-15s, Norway has set the minimum age at 15, Spain aims for 16, and France is exploring a ban for under-15s alongside a potential overnight digital curfew. The Netherlands advises parents to block social media access for children until they reach 15 years old. Additionally, the EU Parliament passed a non-binding resolution recommending a ban for under-16s.
In Ireland, the government is looking into age verification through a digital wallet and has a ban similar to Australia's in reserve. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged to establish a panel of child-protection experts to address these issues.
In the UK, the Labour party is open to implementing a ban if there is sufficient evidence to support it. The Online Safety Act includes safeguards to monitor the policy's impact, and previously a private member’s bill proposed social media restrictions for younger users.
In the United States, regulatory approaches vary by state: Utah requires parental consent for under-18s and imposes night-use restrictions; Florida has banned social media use for under-14s; Virginia limits usage to one hour per day for under-16s; Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana require parental consent for under-16s. While federal level bans remain unlikely due to political gridlock, Senator Ted Cruz and allies have introduced legislation. Meanwhile, Rahm Emanuel has voiced support for the US adopting policies similar to Australia’s.
