PARIS (Reuters) – Australia has approved a ban on social media for children under 16, one of the world’s strictest regulations aimed at Big Tech. Here’s what Australia, European countries and tech companies have done to regulate children’s access to social media.
AUSTRALIA
The new law forces tech giants from Instagram and Facebook (NASDAQ:) owner Meta to TikTok to prevent minors from logging in or face fines of up to US$49.5 million ($32 million). A trial of methods to enforce the ban will begin in January, with the ban coming into effect in a year.
TECH’S OWN RULES
Social media platforms including TikTok, Facebook and Snapchat say people must be at least 13 years old to sign up. However, child protection advocates say controls are insufficient, and official data in several European countries shows huge numbers of children under the age of 13 have social media accounts.
BRITAIN
Britain currently has no plans for Australian-style restrictions. But digital minister Peter Kyle has said everything is on the table when it comes to keeping people safe online and has launched a study to investigate the impact of smartphone and social media use on children specifically.
He said regulator Ofcom must take into account government priorities such as safety by design and transparency and accountability as they enforce the Online Safety Act from next year.
The law, which sets stricter standards for social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and TikTok – including appropriate age restrictions – was passed by the previous government in 2023.
NORWAY
The Norwegian government last month proposed raising the age at which children can agree to conditions for using social media from the current age of 13 to 15, although parents will still be allowed to sign on their behalf if they are under the age limit.
The centre-left government also said it had started legislation to set an absolute legal minimum age for social media use, but it was not immediately clear when a law mandating this could reach parliament.
According to the government, half of nine-year-olds in Norway use some form of social media.
EU LEGISLATION
In the European Union, parental consent is required for the processing of personal data of children under the age of 16, although the bloc’s 27 member states can lower that limit to 13.
FRANCE
In 2023, France passed a law requiring social platforms to obtain parental consent for minors under the age of 15 to create accounts. However, local media say technical problems mean the measure has not yet been implemented.
In April, a panel commissioned by President Emmanuel Macron recommended stricter rules, including banning mobile phones for children under 11 and phones with internet access for children under 13. It is unclear when new legislation could be adopted and to what extent it would follow the experts’ advice. recommendations.
GERMANY
Officially, minors between the ages of 13 and 16 in Germany are only allowed to use social media if their parents give permission. There are currently no plans to move forward. However, child protection advocates say controls are insufficient and are calling for better implementation of existing rules.
BELGIUM
In 2018, Belgium passed a law requiring children to be at least 13 years old to create a social media account without parental consent.
THE NETHERLANDS
Although the Netherlands has no laws regarding a minimum age for social media use, the government has banned mobile devices in classrooms from January 2024 to reduce distractions. Exceptions apply for digital classes, medical needs or disabilities.
ITALY
In Italy, children under the age of 14 require parental consent to sign up for social media accounts, while no consent is required from that age onwards.
