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The Australian controversial action to ban social media access for those under 16 is creating waves worldwide. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and parents are monitoring with great interest to see if this tactic will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Momentum

In Europe, a rising number of nations are moving toward similar measures.

• Denmark plans a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister declaring that mobile devices and apps are "stealing our kids' innocence". The policy is expected to be formalized in the coming year.
• Norway is set to enforce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to shield the young from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is developing a digital ID system to confirm the identity and age of social media users. Authorities have stated that an Australian-model ban remains "an options on the table".
• In Spain, the leader has called on lawmakers to approve a proposal lifting the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has recommended a similar move, including an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has urged guardians to prevent their children from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has passed a advisory statement demanding a ban for under-16s except if parental consent is provided. While it cautions of the "habit-forming" nature of these services, the resolution does not enact binding law.

"An effective age restriction is a useful first step," commented the MEP driving the measure.

Britain: A Cautious Approach

In the UK, the leadership has remained open to a potential ban, arguing that "no option is being dismissed" but maintaining any decision must be "based on conclusive data".

Earlier, momentum grew behind a legislative effort to impose controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end watered down. Nonetheless, the administration vowed to further research the matter.

Charities have expressed apprehensions. A prominent charity set up by the family of a girl who took her own life after being exposed to disturbing social media material argues that a strict age ban may not make platforms safer and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of harm when users reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the refusal of the social media companies to design tools that are appropriate and age appropriate for minors," stated a leading child protection advocate.

The United States: A Fragmented Picture

In the United States, action is primarily occurring at the local level due to country-wide stalemate.

• Utah demands guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and limits overnight use.
• The state of Florida has signed a measure prohibiting those below 14 from joining social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• The state of Virginia has approved a regulation limiting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with extra time requiring a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced bills mandating parental consent for minors to set up social media profiles.

Despite widespread concern and suggestions from certain politicians to mimic this lead, a nationwide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Outlook

Beyond Europe and the US, further countries are also exploring options.

• The Malaysian government intends to restrict social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• Brazil has lifted the required age for one major platform to 16.

However, global bodies take a more nuanced position. The UN children's agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even prove counterproductive". The agency highlights that social networks can be a "lifeline" for marginalized children and that government action should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to invest in child safeguards.

As this global conversation continues, the policies of this nation and others show that policymakers globally are no longer willing to delay for tech companies to self-regulate.