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The Australian bold policy to ban social media access for those under 16 is creating waves around the globe. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and families are watching intently to see if this strategy will become a template for the rest of the world.

The European Movement

Across Europe, a rising group of states are exploring comparable bans.

• Denmark has stated a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister declaring that phones and apps are "stealing our kids' youth". A law is expected to be enacted in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to implement a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard children from the "influence of the AI".
• The Irish government is working on a digital wallet to verify the age and identity of social media participants. Officials have suggested that an Australian-model ban is "an tools in reserve".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked the legislature to approve a bill increasing the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has recommended a comparable action, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has advised guardians to restrict their youngsters from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has passed a advisory motion demanding a ban for minors unless a parent decides otherwise is provided. Although it warns of the "habit-forming" nature of these apps, the move does not enact binding law.

"An effective age limit is a useful first step," commented the parliamentarian driving the measure.

The United Kingdom: A Watchful Approach

For the United Kingdom, the administration has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "no measure is discarded" but maintaining any action must be "supported by robust evidence".

Earlier, support built behind a proposal to introduce controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end weakened. Instead, the administration committed to investigate the matter.

Campaign organizations have raised concerns. A prominent charity established by the family of a girl who took her own life after encountering harmful social media material suggests that a simple age ban might not improve online safety and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of harm when young people become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to design products and services that are safe and suitable for minors," commented a leading peer.

The US: A Fragmented Picture

Across America, action is primarily unfolding at the state level amid national inaction.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and controls overnight use.
• Florida has passed a law barring under-14s from accessing social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a rule limiting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with additional access dependent on adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also introduced measures requiring guardian approval for under-16s to create social media accounts.

Even with cross-party agreement and proposals from some politicians to copy the Australian example, a nationwide ban is currently seen as improbable.

International Perspectives

Apart from these regions, other nations are likewise exploring options.

• The Malaysian government aims to prohibit social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• Brazil has increased the required age for one major platform to 16.

But, international bodies strike a more nuanced position. The UN children's agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "could have unintended consequences". The body highlights that the internet can be a "vital connection" for marginalized children and that bans should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to invest in safety.

Even as this international discussion continues, the policies of Australia and others show that governments internationally are no longer prepared to stand by for platforms to self-regulate.