Amid growing concerns over the impact of social media on young users, several countries are moving forward with legislative measures to restrict access for minors. Australia has set a precedent as the first nation to enact a complete ban on under-16s using social media platforms. Meanwhile, European countries are taking steps to implement similar restrictions, underscoring a global shift in how societies approach youth engagement with digital platforms.
That changed in November, when the European Parliament acted. Lawmakers voted to prohibit social media use by anyone under 16 years old unless they receive parental permission. This decision is in line with similar commitments by France, Italy, Denmark, Spain, and Norway. Every country understands the importance of exhausting efforts to keep minors from experiencing severe online abuse. New technologies for age verification and parental consent are becoming popular. This transformational change reflects an increased recognition of the need to safeguard children’s interests in an increasingly digital age.
Australia’s Pioneering Legislation
Australia just took a very courageous stand! It is the first country to introduce a total ban of social media to anyone younger than 16 years old. This very welcome and ambitious initiative directly addresses the increasing concerns of parents. That’s a huge step when you consider how social media is affecting kids’ mental health and their safety online.
Here, the eSafety Commission of Australia has led the way. In November, it signed a trilateral joint pledge with its UK counterpart and the European Commission to share information regarding developments in age assurance technologies.
Lisa Given, a professor at RMIT University who specializes in age assurance technology, emphasizes the international ramifications of Australia’s legislation. I know that many countries from around the world are looking at us with great interest. They’re just out there trying to figure out if our social media restrictions can be introduced or modified to work in their own contexts,” she said.
European Legislative Developments
Following Australia’s example, some other European countries are implementing their own age restrictions. In the meantime, France has passed legislation mandating social media platforms verify the age of users and secure parental permission for those under 15. Likewise, Italy requires even users under 14 to have parental consent.
Denmark has pledged to prevent under-15s from using social media without parental consent. Spain and Norway are in the process of passing similar prohibitions, a sign that this is part of a larger spread of activity across Europe.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has taken a personal interest in demonstrating the significance of these measures. She said, “Let’s face it. It’s pretty clear that this is just common sense. Von der Leyen thinks that you young people shouldn’t be able to look at adult content on the Internet until you’re old enough to be an adult. This concept is similar to existing tobacco and alcohol regulations.
Challenges and Concerns
Even with the hopeful progress towards imposing age restrictions, there is still the larger issue of how to implement effective age verification systems. Those calls were bolstered by experts sounding alarms about platforms such as Snapchat. They point out the dangers of requiring users to send selfies or government ID information to unknown third-party websites for age verification.
Lisa Given noted concerns surrounding privacy and data safety, stating, “Do these raise any risks around privacy? If information is being stored or shared about their children as part of the age assurance process, is that data going to be safe?”
Many parents are understandably worried about some of the technology that is being used to age assure. As in Australia, there is a growing grassroots movement of American parents who want the control. Parents simply desire to have the freedom to make the decisions that are in the best interests of their children’s future.
Countries are in the thick of this work now. By the end of the year, the European Commission will have to receive targeted expert advice on how to go about creating the best European youth protection policies.
The Path Forward
The campaign to raise the age requirement to access social media is picking up steam. This trend reflects growing awareness that parents have a critical role to play in their kids’ evolving digital lives.
