Teenagers and social media, should they have access? This never-ending debate has many people with mixed opinions. Here is how different countries are planning on tackling it.
Headline news late last year was Australia’s bold decision of banning under 16 year-old’s access to all social media platforms. This includes Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, X, TikTok, Reddit, Twitch, amongst others. It is the first country to take such extreme measures.
The mass banning comes from many years of teenagers being exposed to inappropriate content and uncontrolled access to information and images. We have seen an increase in abuse, sexual content, bullying, manipulation and an ease to distribute fake information and identities. Despite the attempts of the platforms to impose safety measures and restrictions, children and teenagers continue to be exposed. The rise of AI has played a crucial part, as now, it has become hard to identify what is real and not.
META, owner of Facebook and Instagram has already removed over half a million accounts belonging to under 16s. The process to open an account in Australia will now have an efficient age verification system and platforms which fail to follow these rules will be faced with the equivalent of a 28 million euro fine.
The rest of the world is also making big decisions surrounding this topic, with many people wondering whether they will follow suit. The UK conservative party and House of Lords are vouching for similar measures, with many campaigning for a complete ban for under 16’s as well.
Spain and Europe are taking a more slow and progressive approach. A survey conducted by the Fiscal de menores de España stated that 92,5% of teenagers are on at least one social media platform. Currently, Spain’s minimum age to register with your own information is 14. However, last year, alongside the rest of Europe they voted to raise the age to 16 and a blanket ban for under 13 year olds. This means that children between the ages of 13 and 16 will require parental consent and will go through a proper age verification system to open a social media account.
These measures, although necessary, have not come without public scrutiny. These rules will require even more of our information being given to the internet and social media companies, and many argue the difficulty of just removing these accounts as the average age to open a social media account is at 12. Many of these users will have already experienced many years of exposure to these apps.
It’s proving difficult to control social media and AI and safety measures have to be taken. Do you agree with Australia’s blanket ban? Or Europe’s ‘little by little’ approach. Let us know what you think! Watch our latest Good Morning Spain’s episode for our team’s take on it.
