Multiple countries across the world are considering bans on social media for teenagers.
Australia introduced a world-first legislation into the country's parliament on Thursday, which would see social media banned for teenagers under the age of 16.
Some see these measures as necessary to protect young people from potential dangers online. When introducing the bill in parliament, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, "We want young Australians essentially to have a childhood."
"Social media has a social responsibility and as a government we have a responsibility to keep our young Australians safe," he added.
Others meanwhile see it as a drastic measure that could cut off young people from their peers. Elon Musk slammed the Australian government on X, formerly Twitter and said that the measure "seems like a backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians."
With opinion split on Australia's proposal, Newsweek looks at which countries around the world are considering similar initiatives.
Which Countries Are Considering Social Media Bans for Teens?
Australia
The Australian government has proposed legislation to ban children under 16 from using social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and others. The bill, which has significant political backing, aims to address concerns over 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.
Newsweek has reached out to the office of the Australian Prime Minister via an online form for comment.
United Kingdom
U.K. ministers are considering a social media ban for individuals under 16 due to potential harmful effects on their wellbeing. Peter Kyle, the secretary of state for science, innovation and technology, said that all options are being kept open, inspired by Australia's recent actions. Research has been commissioned to assess the impact of online platforms on youths, with the U.K.'s Online Safety Act aiming to enforce the removal of detrimental posts.
Newsweek has reached out to the British government via email for comment.
Norway
The Norwegian government is planning to raise the minimum age for social media access from 13 to 15 to better protect children from harmful online content. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre emphasized the importance of safeguarding young individuals in the digital space.
Newsweek has reached out to the Norwegian government via email for comment.
Which Countries Have Already Implemented Restrictions?
France
In 2023, France introduced legislation to ban children under 15 from accessing online services without parental permission. The European Union's data regulations state that teenagers must be 16 to have their data processed, but individual members can lower the age limit.
What Are the Concerns About the Social Media Ban?
There are concerns that such bans could isolate and negatively impact young people.
Sir Peter Wanless, CEO at the British National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children told Newsweek in an email that, "Social media is now an integral part of young people's lives. It provides them with opportunities to communicate with friends and family, to learn and be creative."
He added that, "We understand the concerns about children having access to social media that is fundamentally unsafe for them. However, children deserve to have age appropriate experiences online rather than being cut off from it all together."
"To try and introduce a blanket ban on under 16s, as being introduced in Australia, would penalize children for the failures of tech companies to make their sites properly safe for young users and deliver age-appropriate experiences," Wanless said.
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