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The Australian bold policy to restrict social media access for young people below 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Politicians, child protection groups, and parents are monitoring intently to see if this approach will inspire imitation for other nations.

European Movement

Throughout Europe, a rising chorus of countries are exploring comparable bans.

• Denmark plans a ban on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister declaring that smartphones and platforms are "taking away our kids' youth". A law could be formalized next year.
• The Norwegian government is set to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to shield the young from the "power of the AI".
• The Irish government is working on a online verification tool to confirm the identity and age of social media account holders. Authorities have suggested that an Australia-style ban could be "a potential options on the table".
• In Spain, the president has called on the legislature to approve a law increasing the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a comparable move, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The administration in The Netherlands has recommended parents to restrict their youngsters from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the EU parliament has adopted a symbolic resolution demanding a ban for minors unless a parent decides otherwise is granted. Although it highlights of the "compulsive" nature of these apps, the move does not establish binding law.

"An effective age barrier is a solid foundation," stated a leading European lawmaker behind the initiative.

The UK: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the government has remained open to a possible ban, stating that "no option is discarded" but insisting any action must be "supported by robust evidence".

Previously, momentum built behind a proposal to introduce restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually weakened. However, the government committed to investigate the matter.

Charities have expressed apprehensions. A prominent charity founded by the family of a young person who died after viewing disturbing online content suggests that a strict age ban may not protect children and could create a "sudden drop-off" of risk when young people turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to build products and services that are safe and age appropriate for children," said a prominent child protection advocate.

The United States: A Fragmented Approach

In the United States, legislation is largely happening at the state level amid country-wide stalemate.

• Utah demands parental consent for under-18s to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• Florida has passed a measure banning those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting minors to a single hour of social media access per day, with any further time needing adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed bills requiring adult authorization for minors to open social media presences.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from some politicians to mimic this lead, a federal ban is currently seen as improbable.

Global Perspectives

Apart from these regions, other states are similarly taking action.

• Malaysia aims to ban social media for teenagers effective next year.
• Brazil has raised the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, international organizations adopt a more nuanced tone. The UN children's agency has warned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "could have unintended consequences". The organization highlights that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable young people and that bans should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to invest in child safeguards.

As this global conversation continues, the policies of Australia and others demonstrate that governments globally are no longer prepared to stand by for platforms to make changes on their own.