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The Australian bold policy to prohibit social media access for those under 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Officials, campaigners, and parents are observing intently to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

European Momentum

Across Europe, a increasing number of states are exploring similar measures.

• Denmark has announced a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader declaring that phones and platforms are "stealing our youngsters' youth". Legislation may be passed soon.
• Norway is set to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard young people from the "power of the algorithms".
• Ireland is working on a digital wallet to confirm the age and identity of social media users. Officials have indicated that an similar ban is "one of the measures on the table".
• In Spain, the president has urged the legislature to pass a law raising the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a related step, including an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has advised guardians to prevent their children from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has passed a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for under-16s except if parental consent is given. Although it highlights of the "addictive" design of these platforms, the step does not create binding law.

"An effective age barrier is a solid starting point," stated a leading parliamentarian behind the resolution.

Britain: A Cautious Stance

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has kept open a potential ban, arguing that "no option is being dismissed" but stressing any policy must be "supported by strong evidence".

Earlier, support grew behind a proposal to enact restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end weakened. Nonetheless, the government vowed to conduct more studies the topic.

Advocacy groups have expressed warnings. One foundation established by the loved ones of a girl who died after viewing dangerous social media material suggests that a strict age ban could fail to improve online safety and could create a "dangerous transition" of risk when users become eligible.

"This ban is a response to the failure of the tech sector to design products and services that are secure and age appropriate for minors," stated a influential online safety campaigner.

The US: A Fragmented Approach

Stateside, legislation is mostly occurring at the state government level due to federal gridlock.

• The state of Utah requires adult approval for minors to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has passed a law banning children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• Virginia has approved a regulation capping under-16s to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with extra access dependent on adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed measures demanding adult authorization for teenagers to create social media profiles.

Even with widespread concern and calls from some politicians to mimic Australia's example, a US-wide ban is presently seen as improbable.

International Outlook

Outside of these regions, additional nations are also taking action.

• Malaysia plans to ban social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, international organizations take a more measured position. The UN children's agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "might backfire". The agency points out that the internet can be a "critical link" for isolated young people and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to prioritize user protection.

Even as this international conversation evolves, the policies of the Australian government and several other countries indicate that governments internationally are less and less prepared to stand by for tech companies to make changes on their own.