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The Australian controversial policy to ban social media access for those under 16 is sending ripples internationally. Officials, child protection groups, and parents are watching closely to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.

European Trend

Throughout Europe, a growing number of states are exploring similar bans.

• Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister declaring that phones and networks are "taking away our kids' youth". Legislation may be enacted soon.
• Norway is planning to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to protect young people from the "power of the AI".
• Ireland is working on a digital wallet to authenticate the user details of social media participants. The media minister have indicated that an Australia-style ban is "a potential tools under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the president has asked lawmakers to pass a proposal lifting the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has suggested a comparable step, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The administration in the Netherlands has urged parents to restrict their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the EU parliament has passed a symbolic statement calling for a ban for minors except if parental consent is given. While it cautions of the "compulsive" design of these services, the resolution does not create enforceable legislation.

"A clear age limit is a useful first step," commented the parliamentarian driving the resolution.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Eye

In the UK, the government has remained open to a potential ban, arguing that "nothing is being dismissed" but maintaining any decision must be "grounded in conclusive research".

Previously, support grew behind a legislative effort to enact controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually weakened. However, the administration pledged to conduct more studies the issue.

Campaign organizations have expressed apprehensions. An organization established by the loved ones of a girl who died after being exposed to dangerous social media material contends that a simple age ban might not improve online safety and could result in a "dangerous transition" of harm when young people turn 16.

"This ban is a response to the failure of the social media companies to build platforms and apps that are safe and fit for minors," said a prominent peer.

The United States: A Decentralized Picture

Across America, action is mostly unfolding at the state level against a backdrop of national gridlock.

• Utah requires parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and controls overnight use.
• The state of Florida has passed a measure prohibiting those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting minors to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with extra use needing adult consent.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly introduced laws demanding adult authorization for teenagers to create social media accounts.

Despite bipartisan support and proposals from certain figures to mimic the Australian example, a US-wide ban is currently seen as improbable.

Global Outlook

Apart from Europe and the US, additional nations are also taking action.

• The Malaysian government plans to ban social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• Brazil has increased the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

However, international agencies take a more measured position. The UN children's agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "might prove counterproductive". The agency highlights that the internet can be a "lifeline" for marginalized young people and that bans should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to invest in user protection.

As this worldwide conversation evolves, the steps of Australia and several other countries show that governments internationally are increasingly willing to delay for platforms to act voluntarily.