Many countries around the world are considering banning social media for teenagers.
Australia on Thursday introduced the world’s first bill in the country’s parliament to ban social networking sites for teenagers under the age of 16.
Some see these measures as necessary to protect young people from potential dangers online. Introducing the bill in parliament, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “We want young Australians to basically have a childhood.”
“Social media has a social responsibility and we as a government have a responsibility to keep our young Australians safe,” he added.
Looks like a back door to control internet access for all Australians https://t.co/694yCzWOaB
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 21, 2024
Others, meanwhile, see it as a drastic measure that could cut young people off from their peers. Elon Musk criticized the Australian government on X, formerly Twitter, saying the measure “seems like a backdoor to control all Australians’ internet access”.
Which countries are considering banning social networks for teenagers?
Australia
The Australian government has proposed legislation to ban children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and others. The bill, which has significant political support, aims to address concerns about online safety and the negative impact of social media on young people’s mental health. If passed, the legislation would impose fines of up to AU$50 million ($32.6 million) for non-compliance.
United Kingdom
British ministers are considering banning social media for under-16s because of the potential harmful effects on their wellbeing. Peter Kyle, secretary of state for the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, said all options remained open, inspired by Australia’s recent moves. Research has been commissioned to assess the impact of online platforms on young people, with the UK’s Online Safety Act aiming to enforce the removal of harmful posts.
A spokesman for the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said: “We want to find the best way to keep children safe while using the latest technology. This week we set new priorities for online safety, including ensuring safety.” it’s baked into platforms from the start By next summer, the Online Safety Act will bring in protections for children to ensure their online experiences are age-appropriate.
“We will take all necessary precautions to keep children safe online.”
Norway
The Norwegian government plans to raise the minimum age for accessing social media from 13 to 15 to better protect children from harmful online content. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre emphasized the importance of protecting young individuals in the digital space.
Which countries have already introduced restrictions?
France
In 2023, France introduced legislation banning children under 15 from accessing online services without parental consent. European Union data regulations state that minors must be 16 for their data to be processed, but individual members can lower the age limit.
What are the concerns about banning social media?
There are concerns that such bans could isolate and negatively impact young people.
He added that: “We understand the concern that children have access to social media that is fundamentally dangerous for them. However, children deserve to have age-appropriate online experiences rather than being cut off from everything.”
“Trying to introduce a blanket ban on under-16s, as is being implemented in Australia, would punish children for the failure of technology companies to make their sites safe enough for young users and provide them with age-appropriate experiences,” Wanless said.
