Who’ll next implement an Australia-style under-16s social media ban?

Australia’s social media ban on under-16s has attracted global attention, and governments around the world are considering implementing similar policies; The next step is likely to be the United Kingdom.

The Australian government’s Online Safety Amendment Act came into force on December 10 and includes major social media platforms such as Reddit, X, and others. Meta’s Instagram, Alphabet’s YouTube, Bytedance’s TikTok.

Platforms have been forced to implement age verification methods to ensure those under 16 cannot create accounts, and companies could face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) if they fail to comply.

Governments around the world are drafting legislation to implement an Australian-style ban, although there has been mixed reactions from young people, tech giants and experts since the ban came into force.

“This is a global problem and governments everywhere are under pressure to respond,” Daisy Greenwell, co-founder of UK-based Smartphone-Free Childhood, told CNBC. SFC is a grassroots campaign urging parents to delay providing their children with smartphones and social media access.

“We are already seeing countries moving in this direction, and as trust builds and evidence accumulates, more will follow. No one thinks the status quo works for children, parents or society, and this is one of the clearest policy responses currently on the table,” Greenwell said. he added.

Other countries considering a social media ban for under-16s include the UK, France, Denmark, Spain, Germany, Italy and Greece.

The United States is lagging behind on this front, where a national ban is unlikely, but there are certainly state and local interests, according to Ravi Iyer, executive director of the Neely Center at the University of Southern California Marshall School.

Iyer worked closely with social psychologist Jonathon Haidt, who wrote the famous book The Anxious Generation about the harmful effects of social media and smartphones on children and teenagers.

“Federal policy is really hard to predict, but this is one of the few remaining bipartisan issues, so it’s certainly possible,” Iyer said in emailed comments.

“I feel more confident at the state level and believe we will see several U.S. states implement such a policy in the next few years.”

MPs California And Texas They plan to introduce bans at the state level in 2026.

But governments trying to implement such bans may face resistance from tech giants.

Following Australia’s move, the community-focused Reddit forum filed a lawsuit arguing that the new law goes too far by restricting online political discussions. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, has called on Canberra to reconsider the ban. And in a statement explaining to users how the restrictions work, Elon Musk X He said: “It’s not our choice; it’s what Australian law requires.”

Meanwhile, calls for a social media ban on people under 16 in the UK grew rapidly at the beginning of this year. of england The House of Lords is expected to vote This week the Children’s Welfare and Schools Bill will be amended to include a social media ban on under-16s.

Greenwell’s SFC started a petition email campaign More than 100,000 emails were sent to local MPs across the UK this week. The SFC template email called on the government to set “reasonable, age-appropriate limits that protect the welfare of children.”

“We consistently see that the more time kids spend on smartphones and social media, the worse their mental health outcomes will be. If these platforms are no longer available, network effects break down and young people can reconnect with each other and the real world,” Greenwell told CNBC.

Even British Prime Minister Keir Starmer supported this idea, saying “we need to better protect children from social media” and is examining the ban in Australia.

Starmer said last week: “All options are on the table in terms of how we can put in place further protection, whether it’s for under-16s on social media, or whether it’s for under-fives and screen time, which I’m very concerned about.”

“Children come to the reception at the age of four [the first year of school] “I spent too much time on screens,” he added.

Meanwhile, UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting The Anxious Generation author asked Haidt to address officials at an event to push for tighter restrictions on young people.

France is also a strong opponent because it is discussing two bills, one of which is supported by the EU. French President Emmanuel MacronTo block social media access for those under 15, France24 reported last week. France’s public health watchdog, ANSES, said the negative effects of social media were “numerous” and well documented.

USC’s Iyer said that if the youth ban became a global norm, it would ease the pressure on young people to self-regulate.

“One of the main goals of the law is to change the norm so that young people don’t feel pressured to use social media because all their friends are doing it,” Iyer said.

“If you think all your friends are using a particular platform, avoiding it is not a realistic choice. If we can solve this problem and the majority of young people stay away from social media, we will have done a lot,” he added.