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The Australian bold policy to ban social media access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and parents are monitoring intently to see if this approach will become a template for countries abroad.

Across Europe Momentum

Across Europe, a rising number of states are considering similar restrictions.

• Denmark plans a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the leader stating that mobile devices and apps are "taking away our children's youth". A law is expected to be enacted soon.
• Norway is planning to introduce a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to protect children from the "influence of the AI".
• The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to verify the user details of social media participants. Officials have suggested that an Australian-model ban could be "one of the options on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged parliament to pass a law lifting the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has suggested a comparable move, including an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The government in the Netherlands has recommended guardians to restrict their youngsters from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has adopted a symbolic resolution supporting a ban for minors without a parent decides otherwise is provided. Although it cautions of the "addictive" nature of these services, the step does not enact binding law.

"A strong age limit is a solid foundation," commented a leading European lawmaker driving the measure.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has not ruled out a possible ban, arguing that "nothing is discarded" but stressing any policy must be "supported by strong evidence".

Earlier, support built behind a proposal to enact limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately modified. However, the administration vowed to conduct more studies the issue.

Charities have voiced warnings. A prominent charity founded by the loved ones of a young person who was lost after encountering dangerous platform posts argues that a blanket age ban might not make platforms safer and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when users reach the legal age.

"This ban is a reaction to the inability of the social media companies to build products and services that are appropriate and fit for young users," commented a prominent online safety campaigner.

The United States: A State-by-State Approach

In the United States, regulation is largely happening at the local level against a backdrop of country-wide gridlock.

• Utah demands parental consent for under-18s to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• Florida has passed a law barring under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has passed a rule capping under-16s to a single hour of social media time per day, with extra access needing adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise introduced laws demanding parental consent for minors to set up social media accounts.

Despite cross-party agreement and proposals from some individuals to follow the Australian example, a US-wide ban is right now seen as improbable.

Global Perspectives

Outside of Europe and the US, other countries are similarly exploring options.

• Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for under-16s effective next year.
• Brazil has increased the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, world agencies strike a more nuanced position. The UN children's agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "could prove counterproductive". The agency highlights that online platforms can be a "critical link" for vulnerable youth and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to prioritize user protection.

While this worldwide discussion evolves, the actions of Australia and several other countries demonstrate that policymakers globally are no longer willing to wait for tech companies to self-regulate.