Australia's bold move to ban social media for under-16s has sent shockwaves across the globe, prompting a flurry of reactions from policymakers, safety advocates, and parents. As the rest of the world watches with bated breath, several countries are now considering or implementing similar measures.
Denmark is set to follow Australia's lead by banning social media for under-15s, citing concerns over children's mental health and wellbeing. Norway has also introduced a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the country's commitment to protecting its young citizens from the "power of algorithms." Ireland is taking a more nuanced approach, introducing a digital wallet to verify users' ages and identities, rather than implementing a blanket ban.
Meanwhile, Spain is considering raising the minimum age for social media use to 16, while France has threatened to impose a nationwide ban on under-15s. The Netherlands has taken a more measured approach, advising parents to block their children from social media until they reach the age of 15.
In Europe, the European parliament has passed a non-binding resolution calling for under-16s to be banned from using social media unless parental consent is given. However, this resolution lacks teeth and will require further cooperation between member states, the EU parliament, and the European Commission to become law.
The UK government has not ruled out a ban on social media use by under-16s, with Labour party leaders saying "nothing is off the table." However, the debate remains contentious, with some arguing that an age limit would do little to address online harm.
In the US, several states have introduced legislation requiring parental consent for under-18s to use social media. Utah has introduced a law requiring under-18s to obtain permission from parents before joining social media platforms, while Florida has banned under-14s from joining social media altogether.
Despite growing concerns over online safety, not everyone is convinced that a blanket ban on social media use by under-16s is the solution. Arturo Béjar, a former Meta engineer who blew the whistle on online safety issues, believes that nationwide legislation will be difficult to pass due to gridlock in Washington.
As the world watches Australia's move with interest, Unicef has warned that social media bans can carry risks and may even backfire. The UN agency argues that internet platforms can provide a lifeline for isolated or marginalized children and that regulation should not replace tech companies' investment in safety measures.
Denmark is set to follow Australia's lead by banning social media for under-15s, citing concerns over children's mental health and wellbeing. Norway has also introduced a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the country's commitment to protecting its young citizens from the "power of algorithms." Ireland is taking a more nuanced approach, introducing a digital wallet to verify users' ages and identities, rather than implementing a blanket ban.
Meanwhile, Spain is considering raising the minimum age for social media use to 16, while France has threatened to impose a nationwide ban on under-15s. The Netherlands has taken a more measured approach, advising parents to block their children from social media until they reach the age of 15.
In Europe, the European parliament has passed a non-binding resolution calling for under-16s to be banned from using social media unless parental consent is given. However, this resolution lacks teeth and will require further cooperation between member states, the EU parliament, and the European Commission to become law.
The UK government has not ruled out a ban on social media use by under-16s, with Labour party leaders saying "nothing is off the table." However, the debate remains contentious, with some arguing that an age limit would do little to address online harm.
In the US, several states have introduced legislation requiring parental consent for under-18s to use social media. Utah has introduced a law requiring under-18s to obtain permission from parents before joining social media platforms, while Florida has banned under-14s from joining social media altogether.
Despite growing concerns over online safety, not everyone is convinced that a blanket ban on social media use by under-16s is the solution. Arturo Béjar, a former Meta engineer who blew the whistle on online safety issues, believes that nationwide legislation will be difficult to pass due to gridlock in Washington.
As the world watches Australia's move with interest, Unicef has warned that social media bans can carry risks and may even backfire. The UN agency argues that internet platforms can provide a lifeline for isolated or marginalized children and that regulation should not replace tech companies' investment in safety measures.
. Seriously though, I'm all for parents having a say in what their kids are doing online, but complete ban? That's like taking away cookies from kids 
. What about all the good stuff on social media too? Like, have you seen those funny cat videos? 
. And what's with all these countries trying to regulate this? It's like they're trying to create some kind of digital world order 
. I mean, can't we just agree that parents should be able to set their own limits? Like, I get it, online safety is important, but do we need a blanket ban? I don't think so 
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I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole thing... a blanket ban on social media for under-16s? It sounds like an easy fix, but is it really going to solve the problem of online harm and mental health issues? I mean, what about all the kids who are already struggling with these issues and need a safe space to talk to others or connect with their communities online?
Like, what's next? Banning books or video games for under-16s?
but seriously, isn't that just gonna make people look for workarounds or find ways to sneak onto social media anyway 
and I'm also curious about Unicef's comments, like what exactly do you mean by "may even backfire"? is it like if kids are forced off the internet but then they just use their friends' phones or something? 
#GamingForGood.
#NotAllSolutionsAreEqual. I'm all for parental consent and education on online safety, but shouldn't we also encourage tech companies to do their part in creating safer platforms? 
#MentalHealthMatters. Let's not forget that social media is just one part of the equation – we need to address the root causes of bullying, body image issues, and cyberbullying too 
#BreakTheCycle.
#Let'sTalkSocialMedia. I'm rooting for Australia, but I hope other countries take a closer look at their own approaches before making any sweeping changes 
#ResearchOverRegulation.
. My niece is 12 and she loves using Instagram, and I know if there was a ban, she'd just find a way to get around it 
. What we really need is more education and awareness about online safety for parents and kids alike 
. It shows that some countries are thinking creatively about regulating social media use, rather than just throwing up a blanket ban 
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. We need more countries to follow suit and have a conversation about how we can balance online freedom with keeping our kids safe 
what's next gonna ban video games? 
! As someone who's grown up with social media, I know how hard it is to disconnect from the online world, especially for kids 
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. And what about the potential consequences for teenagers who need their online spaces to cope with stuff like anxiety or depression? 
The UN is right, regulation's gotta be a balanced thing. Maybe we should be lookin' at ways to make tech companies take more responsibility for keepin' kids safe online instead of just takin' things away 
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Like, what's the point of banning something if they can never join in the first place? Plus, I've heard that some of these platforms are already taking steps to protect minors... like having age verification processes and reporting tools. Why not just leave them up to the companies to sort it out instead of making a big fuss about it? 
social media can be toxic, especially for young minds. idk if banning it all together is the answer tho... some countries doing digital wallets or 15+ age limits might be a better way to regulate it 
And let's be real, banning social media won't even come close to fixing online harm... that's just gonna push it under a rug and hide it from our eyes.