Restrictions on social media, smartphones for young people expanding worldwide

By Halil Ibrahim Medet

ISTANBUL (AA) - The increasing prevalence of social media and smartphones with long hours spent in front of screens has brought the risks faced by children and young people into focus worldwide.

Anadolu tracked similar practices and restrictions around the world following an announcement by Australia that it is preparing a bill to introduce age restrictions for social media platforms.

The long hours spent in front of screens by a large portion of the population, especially children and young people, have raised concerns about manipulation, digital bullying, misinformation, hate speech, obscene content, privacy violations, fraud, and cybersecurity.

These concerns have led various countries to impose regulations, restrictions, and bans on smartphones and social media platforms.

In Europe, many politicians have proposed restricting the social media age limit to 15 or 16, arguing that platforms are not properly enforcing the 13-year-old limit they have set themselves.

- Australia's legislation

According to DataReportal's July 2024 data, nearly 5.5 billion people, or 67% of the world’s population, use the internet, and 70% use mobile phones.

Social media profiles account for about 64% of the population. On average, internet users around the world spend 6.5 hours online each day.

Last week, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed concerns that social media is distancing children from real life, their families, and friends.

He announced plans to introduce a bill by the end of the year to enforce age restrictions on social media platforms and said discussions are ongoing regarding the age group that the law would apply to.

Concerns and regulations surrounding social media came back into the spotlight when the Australian government recently introduced a bill that would allow it to "pressure" social media platforms to prevent the spread of misinformation and disinformation.

- Restrictions on phone use

The first wave of phone-related bans began in the late 1980s and early 1990s in North America, during which many school districts started implementing policies or laws preventing students from using cell phones and messaging devices at school.

Recently, in the US, attorneys general from 42 states urged Congress to require social media platforms to include warnings about their impact on children's mental health.

Meanwhile, EU countries are introducing bans on smartphone use in schools to combat screen addiction and cyberbullying.

In Italy, a petition to ban children from using smartphones and having social media accounts sparked debates.

In the Netherlands, after being banned in middle and high schools for distracting students and negatively impacting exam results, smartphone use has also been banned in primary schools.

Shortly after the Netherlands, the Wallonia-Brussels Education Network (WBE), which governs French-speaking schools in Belgium, made a similar decision.

In Greece, students are allowed to bring their phones to school but cannot take them out of their bags.

In Ireland, there is an ongoing debate about completely banning smartphone use by students under the age of 16.

- Restrictions due to security, psychological concerns

Recently, Brazil temporarily banned the social media platform X for failing to comply with the country's anti-disinformation laws.

In China, known for its strict social media regulations, many international platforms such as Facebook, X, and YouTube are considered illegal, and domestic alternatives are used instead.

In 2020, India banned apps like TikTok and WeChat, citing national security and privacy concerns.

In the US, TikTok has been banned on government devices, and many states have taken steps to ban the app for various reasons.

Countries like the UK, France, Belgium, as well as other European nations have also introduced bans on TikTok and similar platforms.

In Iran, access to many social media platforms, including Facebook, X, and YouTube, is restricted on moral and national security grounds.

In the United Arab Emirates, platforms like WhatsApp, Skype, and Facetime are partially restricted.

In Egypt, social media users with more than 5,000 followers are required to register with the media regulator and comply with media laws.

*Writing by Zehra Nur Celik