Social Media Restrictions for Minors See Global Spread

As concerns over children’s screen time, manipulation, digital bullying, and exposure to harmful content grow, countries worldwide are implementing restrictions on social media and smartphone use for young people. This global trend aims to protect minors from the risks associated with prolonged digital exposure and inadequate platform regulations – and has already been taken into account by platforms like Instagram.

Australia is taking a proactive stance by preparing legislation to introduce age restrictions for social media platforms. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently expressed concerns that social media is isolating children from real-life interactions, announcing plans to propose a bill by the end of 2024. This effort follows broader Australian social media restrictions, which led directly into a sharper focus on teen and preteen users.

In Europe, similar measures are being discussed, with politicians calling for stricter social media age limits. Countries like Italy and Ireland are debating bans on smartphone use for minors, while Belgium and the Netherlands have already banned phone use in schools, citing negative impacts on learning and exam performance. Greece has implemented a partial ban, restricting the use of smartphones during school hours.

North America is no exception. In the U.S., 42 state attorneys general recently urged Congress to mandate mental health warnings on social media platforms aimed at children, while various states have already banned TikTok on government devices over privacy and national security concerns. These sentiments – and responses – have been echoed in a number of other countries, presumably with more to follow.

While some nations will ban or heavily restrict some apps, others are focusing on regulations and formal responses to the perceived problems. For now, it’s just a matter of seeing how each platform – and government – approaches the issue.