Social media use amongst teenagers in the spotlight. Credit: Pexels/ mikoto.raw
FOMO (fear of missing out), self-esteem built on the number of likes, access to inappropriate content… these are some of the effects of social media experienced by teenagers daily.
The Australian Government, concerned about teenagers’ exposure to such risks, has taken action by introducing a world-first law—the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024—into Parliament. This bill aims to ban children younger than 16 from using social media.
The legislation seeks to protect young Australians during critical stages of their development and prevent teenage suicide. Persons under 16 will be prohibited from accessing platforms such as X, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, and Instagram. Furthermore, social media companies operating in Australia could face fines of up to £32 million if they fail to enforce these restrictions.
Is this measure effective? Could Europe follow Australia’s lead? Or should restrictions on smartphone usage come first?
Mission to keep childhood smartphone-free
Earlier this year, the UK launched guidance encouraging schools to restrict pupils’ use of phones during the school day. However, it is ultimately up to individual schools to decide whether to confiscate them.
To fill this gap, UK parents have taken matters into their own hands through the Smartphone-Free Childhood movement. This initiative involves parents signing a pact to delay giving their children smartphones. What began as a local WhatsApp group has grown, with at least one parent from a quarter of British schools signing the pact as of October.
Minimum age for social media
As for banning social media use for under-16s, other European countries have taken varied approaches. For instance, France passed a law in July 2023 requiring online social network service providers to block children under 15 unless explicitly authorised by a parent or guardian. Similarly, in October 2024, Norway was set to enforce legislation raising the minimum social media age to 15.
How effective are these measures?
Despite their good intentions, governmental legal processes take at least a year to come into effect. Moreover, many children are tech-savvy and know how to bypass restrictions, such as using a VPN to circumvent parental controls.
Ultimately, while legal enforcement is a valuable starting point, education at home and in schools across Europe is equally critical. Teaching children how to use social media responsibly, manage online interactions, and deal with cyberbullying is as important as implementing age restrictions.
See related article Social media: Norway believes it is harmful to children.
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