London: Governments across the world are moving toward stricter controls on children’s use of social media as concerns continue to grow over online safety, mental health problems, cyberbullying and addictive digital content targeting young users.
Australia has emerged as the leading country in this global movement after introducing one of the toughest social media laws for minors. Under the new law, children under the age of 16 are banned from accessing major social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube and X. Companies that fail to stop underage users could face fines reaching nearly 50 million Australian dollars.
The law, which officially came into force late last year, has triggered strong reactions around the world. Supporters say children are spending too much time online and are increasingly exposed to harmful content, while critics argue that strict bans could raise privacy concerns and limit young people’s digital freedom.
European countries are now considering similar steps. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently said the European Union is moving quickly to strengthen online protection for children. The EU is currently preparing a new age verification system that would help social media companies confirm the age of users without collecting unnecessary personal information.
Officials in Europe are also discussing the possibility of introducing a common minimum age for social media use across all member countries. At the same time, regulators are planning tougher rules against what they call “addictive platform designs.” These include endless scrolling, autoplay videos and recommendation systems that encourage children to remain online for long hours.
France has already moved forward with legislation requiring parental consent for users under 15 years of age. Norway is preparing a ban for children under 16, while Denmark, Poland and Greece are also studying stronger restrictions. Germany and Portugal are debating tighter rules for younger users and stronger parental control measures.
In Asia, governments are also taking action. Indonesia recently announced plans to remove social media accounts belonging to children under 16 from platforms considered high risk. China already has strict rules limiting screen time for minors and forcing platforms to operate special “minor mode” systems for young users. Malaysia is also preparing restrictions for children below the age of 16.
Britain is closely watching developments in Australia and Europe. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government is considering whether the United Kingdom should adopt similar rules. British ministers are also studying stricter regulation for artificial intelligence chatbots that are increasingly being used by children and teenagers.
India too has entered the discussion. Karnataka recently became the first Indian state to announce restrictions on social media access for children under 16. Officials in other states are also reviewing the issue as public concern continues to rise over the impact of social media on students and teenagers.
Mental health experts have repeatedly warned about the effects of excessive social media use among children. Studies in several countries have linked heavy online activity to anxiety, depression, poor sleep, low self esteem and cyberbullying. Parents and teachers have also raised concerns about declining attention spans and addiction to mobile devices among school children.
Technology companies, however, argue that outright bans may not fully solve the problem. Some firms say parents should play a bigger role in supervising online activity rather than governments introducing blanket restrictions. Privacy advocates have also warned that age verification systems could lead to collection of sensitive personal information.
Despite the debate, the global trend is becoming increasingly clear. Governments are no longer willing to leave child safety entirely in the hands of technology companies. As concerns about online harm continue to grow, more countries are expected to introduce stricter rules aimed at protecting children in the digital world.