interviews: Maximiliano Crocamo
Australia’s decision to bar children under 16 from using social media has placed the country at the center of a growing international debate over how far governments should go to regulate technology companies in the name of child protection. The policy, which directly challenges some of the world’s most powerful digital platforms, is being closely watched by politicians, safety advocates and parents worldwide.
While Australia is the first country to enact such a sweeping nationwide ban, it is not alone in reconsidering how children interact with social media. Across Europe and parts of the United States, governments are weighing age limits, parental consent requirements and new forms of digital oversight. Whether Australia’s approach becomes a model for others remains an open question.
Europe Moves Toward Tighter Rules
Several European countries are already moving in a similar direction, though with varying degrees of ambition and legal force.
In Denmark, the government has announced plans to ban social media for children under 15. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has framed the issue in cultural terms, arguing that mobile phones and platforms are “stealing our children’s childhood.” The proposal could become law as early as next year.
Norway is preparing to introduce a minimum age limit of 15 for social media use. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has said stronger protections are needed to shield children from what he described as the “power of the algorithms” that shape online behavior.
Ireland is pursuing a different approach, focusing on verification rather than outright bans. The government is developing a digital wallet system that would allow users to prove their age and identity online. The media minister, Patrick O’Donovan, has said that a ban similar to Australia’s remains an option under consideration.
In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has urged Parliament to raise the minimum age for social media use to 16, while in France President Emmanuel Macron has publicly threatened a ban for under-15s. A French parliamentary commission has gone further, recommending not only age limits but also an overnight “digital curfew” for teenagers aged 15 to 18.
The Netherlands has stopped short of legislation, instead advising parents to prevent children from using social media until the age of 15.
At the European Union level, the European Parliament has adopted a nonbinding resolution calling for a ban on social media use by children under 16 unless parents explicitly consent. The resolution cites concerns over the addictive nature of platforms but does not carry legal force. The E.U. already enforces digital safety standards through the Digital Services Act, though some lawmakers argue that additional measures are needed.
Christel Schaldemose, a Danish member of the European Parliament who helped lead the resolution, has said she intends to continue pushing for stronger, continent-wide rules. Such efforts would require coordination among member states, the European Parliament and the European Commission. “A strong age limit is a good starting point,” she said.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, has announced plans to convene a panel of experts to advise on protecting children online. Parents, she said when unveiling the initiative, are struggling amid a “tsunami of big tech flooding their family homes.”
A Patchwork in the United States
In the United States, where free speech protections complicate nationwide restrictions, efforts to limit children’s access to social media have largely taken place at the state level.
Utah has passed legislation requiring parental consent for minors to use social media and restricting nighttime access without similar approval. Florida has gone further, enacting a law that bans children under 14 from joining social media platforms. That measure, like others across the country, is facing legal challenges over whether it violates the First Amendment.
Virginia has adopted a different model, limiting children under 16 to one hour of social media use per day unless parents grant permission for more time. Georgia, Tennessee and Louisiana have passed laws requiring parental consent for under-16s to open accounts.
At the federal level, momentum has been slower. Rahm Emanuel, the former White House chief of staff under President Barack Obama and a potential presidential candidate, has argued that the United States should follow Australia’s lead. But deep political divisions in Washington make a national ban unlikely in the near term.
Still, some bipartisan cooperation has emerged. Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, has joined Democratic colleagues in proposing legislation that would ban children under 13 from social media and prohibit platforms from serving algorithmically targeted content to users under 17. The bill has not advanced into law.
Arturo Béjar, a former senior engineer and consultant at Meta who has spoken publicly about online safety concerns, said that nationwide U.S. legislation remains distant. While there is bipartisan sympathy driven in part by advocacy from bereaved parents, he said, translating that concern into comprehensive federal policy has proven difficult.
“It is not clear how legislation is going to move forward here,” Mr. Béjar said. “There is support across party lines, but turning that into law is taking a long time.”
A Global Test Case
Australia’s ban has become a test case for governments seeking to curb the influence of social media on children without overstepping legal or cultural boundaries. Supporters see it as a decisive response to mounting evidence of harm, while critics question its enforceability and broader implications for digital rights.
As other countries weigh their options, Australia’s experience is likely to shape the next phase of the global debate — one that balances child safety, parental responsibility and the power of technology companies in everyday life.
