After Australia, Which Countries Could Be Next to Ban Social Media for Children

Summary:

Australia’s proposed social media ban for under-16s has sparked global debate about child online safety. Countries facing rising youth cyberbullying rates, mental health crises linked to social media use, and pressure from child advocacy groups are most likely to follow. Common triggers include alarming studies (e.g., the U.S. Surgeon General’s 2023 advisory), high-profile child exploitation cases, and election-year politics. The UK, Canada, and several U.S. states lead the pack with active legislation.

What This Means for You:

• Impact: Parents may need government ID verification for children’s accounts
• Fix: Start using parental control apps like Google Family Link today
• Security: Turn on “privacy checkup” settings on all family devices
• Warning: Expect stricter age gates on TikTok/Instagram by 2025

Solutions:

Solution 1: Implement Age Verification Tech

Countries are testing facial age estimation tools and digital ID systems. Australia’s “Age Assurance Pilot” uses government-issued credentials cross-checked with banking databases. While effective, privacy advocates warn about data risks.

Tools to try: Yoti (third-party age checker), CLEAR (Secure ID verification)

Solution 2: Parental Control Mandates

Proposed UK laws would require platforms to pre-install parental dashboards showing screen time, contacts, and content history. Companies like Meta are developing “Family Center” hubs with activity reports.

Setup: On iOS > Screen Time > Family Sharing | Android > Digital Wellbeing > Parental controls

Solution 3: School-Based Digital Literacy

Canada’s proposed Bill C-270 includes mandatory social media education starting in 4th grade, teaching children about algorithmic manipulation and privacy settings. Programs follow the “Digital Citizenship Curriculum” framework.

Solution 4: Tiered Access Systems

The EU’s “Digital Age of Consent” model (GDPR Article 8) allows varying access by age: under 13 = no accounts, 13-15 = limited features with parental approval, 16+ = full access. This avoids outright bans while protecting younger children.

YouTube example: Restricted Mode > toggle on for child accounts

People Also Ask:

• Q: Will VPNs bypass these bans? A: Yes, but most laws penalize companies, not users
• Q: Does this violate free speech? A: Courts are split—US Supreme Court blocked Florida’s ban, but EU allows restrictions
• Q: How will platforms verify age? A: Likely through school IDs, credit checks, or biometric estimates
• Q: What about educational uses? A: Most bills exempt school-managed accounts

Protect Yourself:

• Freeze your child’s credit to prevent ID theft in age checks
• Enable TikTok’s “Family Pairing” for content/time limits
• Use router-level blocking (OpenDNS) during homework/sleep hours
• File COPPA complaints if platforms ignore under-13 account requests

Expert Take:

“Blanket bans often backfire—teens just create fake accounts. The winning approach combines verifiable parental consent (like France’s Digital Republic Law) with mandatory ‘safety by design’ coding in apps,” says Dr. Sonia Livingstone, LSE Professor and UNICEF advisor.

Tags:

• UK social media age restriction bill 2024
• Child online protection laws comparison
• Age verification technology for Instagram
• Parental controls legal requirements
• European Union digital consent age
• US states social media ban minors

*Featured image via source

Edited by 4idiotz Editorial System