The Australian Prime Minister announced on Thursday November 7 that he wanted to ban access to social networks for those under 16 years old. The companies that manage the platforms will be responsible for ensuring that users are of the required age to access their services, under penalty of fines.
“It’s (a measure) for moms and dads. Social media is doing a lot of harm to children and I have decided to put an end to it”declared the head of government Anthony Albanese to journalists. He announced a project in this direction in September, but the minimum age had not yet been decided.
The problem of addiction to social networks among young people is increasingly being taken into account by States. A WHO study published on September 25 revealed that in 2022, 11% of adolescents showed signs of problematic use of social networks. They were only 7% four years earlier. These adolescents exhibited symptoms similar to those of addiction: inability to control excessive use, feelings of withdrawal and abandonment of other activities in favor of social media, and negative consequences of excessive use in daily life.
► In France, most platforms prohibited for under 13s
In France, social networks are prohibited for children under 13, according to the conditions of use of the different platforms. But in reality, it is very easy for their users to falsify their date of birth.
According to a study by the Génération Numérique association, in 2021, 63% of young people under the age of 13 had at least one account on a social network. The first registration on a social network would even take place on average at the age of 8 and a half.
A law passed in 2023 should establish a “digital majority” at 15 years of age by prohibiting the registration of young people on networks before that age, except with parental agreement. But, pending a response from the European Commission on its compliance with European law, it has not yet entered into force. For his part, Emmanuel Macron has already spoken out in favor of a telephone ban “ before 11 years ».
► Florida takes its own measures
If those under 13 theoretically do not have access to social networks in the United States, the measure is in fact poorly respected. Several states have in the past attempted to tighten the legislation even further. In March, Florida Governor Ron De Santis signed a law aimed at restricting the access of minors under the age of 16 to social media. The law, which will come into force next January, stipulates that those under 14 will not be able to legally open an account on a social network. Adolescents aged 14 and 15 will need to obtain parental consent to register on these platforms.
Other states, including Utah, Arkansas and Ohio, have tried to take such measures in the past, but have always failed. In September, a federal judge in Utah temporarily froze a law that would have required companies to verify the age of their users, apply privacy settings and limit certain functions on those accounts.
► Spain tightens its rules
In Spain, the Council of Ministers approved a bill in June setting the minimum age for access to social networks at 16. Businesses will also be required to install age verification and parental controls.
The Spanish Data Protection Agency also said it was working on an identification system to block access to minors who try to circumvent the law.
► China implements curfews
The Chinese government has implemented drastic measures to limit addiction to social networks. Since 2023, young Chinese people under the age of 18 have not had access to the Internet between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
The daily Internet connection time on smartphones is also limited: 40 minutes for children under 8 years old, 1 hour for 8-16 year olds and 2 hours for 16-18 year olds.
This is not the first time that the country has tackled the issue of screens. Already, in 2019, the authorities had limited the access of under-18s to online video games to 1.5 hours per day on weekdays and three hours per day on weekends and on vacation.
