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The Australian bold policy to ban social media access for young people below 16 is creating waves around the globe. Officials, safety advocates, and parents are watching with great interest to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.

European Movement

Across Europe, a rising chorus of nations are considering comparable measures.

• The Danish government has announced a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the PM stating that phones and networks are "taking away our children's youth". A law may be passed next year.
• The Norwegian government is set to introduce a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard the young from the "power of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is working on a digital ID system to verify the user details of social media users. Authorities have suggested that an similar ban is "one of the options in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has urged the legislature to pass a proposal increasing the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a similar action, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The government in the Netherlands has advised parents to restrict their kids from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the EU parliament has approved a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 without a parent decides otherwise is provided. Even though it warns of the "compulsive" quality of these apps, the move does not establish enforceable legislation.

"An effective age restriction is a good foundation," commented the MEP behind the resolution.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Approach

Across Britain, the government has remained open to a possible ban, stating that "no option is off the table" but stressing any policy must be "based on strong evidence".

Previously, support grew behind a proposal to enact limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end weakened. However, the administration vowed to investigate the topic.

Advocacy groups have voiced apprehensions. An organization set up by the loved ones of a girl who took her own life after being exposed to dangerous social media material suggests that a strict age ban might not make platforms safer and could lead to a "cliff edge" of exposure when teens reach the legal age.

"This ban is a answer to the inability of the Silicon Valley to design tools that are safe and age appropriate for young users," said a prominent child protection advocate.

The United States: A State-by-State Landscape

In the United States, legislation is largely unfolding at the local government level against a backdrop of country-wide gridlock.

• The state of Utah demands parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and limits late-night use.
• Florida has signed a law banning under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a rule limiting under-16s to one hour of social media access per day, with additional use dependent on adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed measures mandating guardian approval for minors to create social media accounts.

Despite widespread concern and suggestions from various figures to follow Australia's path, a US-wide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Outlook

Beyond these regions, further states are also exploring options.

• Malaysia plans to restrict social media for under-16s effective next year.
• Brazil has raised the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

However, global bodies take a more measured position. A major UN agency has advised that social media bans carry risks and "may even have unintended consequences". The agency notes that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for isolated young people and that bans should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to improve child safeguards.

As this international debate evolves, the actions of Australia and several other countries demonstrate that policymakers globally are no longer content to wait for tech companies to self-regulate.