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The Australian decisive move to restrict social media access for young people below 16 is creating waves around the globe. Officials, child protection groups, and families are watching with great interest to see if this tactic will set a precedent for countries abroad.

The European Trend

Across Europe, a rising group of countries are moving toward similar measures.

• The Danish government has announced a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the PM arguing that phones and networks are "stealing our kids' childhood". A law could be formalized next year.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to implement a age restriction of 15, citing the need to shield the young from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is developing a digital ID system to authenticate the identity and age of social media users. Authorities have indicated that an Australian-model ban remains "one of the measures on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has asked lawmakers to enact a bill raising the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a related move, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The administration in The Netherlands has urged parents to prevent their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has approved a symbolic motion supporting a ban for under-16s without parental consent is granted. Even though it warns of the "compulsive" quality of these platforms, the move does not establish mandatory rules.

"A strong age barrier is a solid foundation," stated a leading MEP driving the measure.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Stance

For the United Kingdom, the administration has remained open to a future ban, stating that "no option is off the table" but insisting any decision must be "grounded in robust research".

Earlier, momentum built behind a legislative effort to enact limits on social media use by minors, but it was eventually watered down. However, the administration committed to conduct more studies the issue.

Advocacy groups have raised warnings. One foundation established by the loved ones of a young person who died after being exposed to dangerous platform posts argues that a strict age ban might not protect children and could lead to a "cliff edge" of harm when young people reach the legal age.

"This ban is a reaction to the failure of the Silicon Valley to design products and services that are appropriate and age appropriate for minors," commented a prominent online safety campaigner.

The United States: A State-by-State Landscape

Stateside, regulation is primarily unfolding at the local level due to federal inaction.

• Utah mandates parental consent for under-18s to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• The state of Florida has signed a bill prohibiting children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• Virginia has enacted a rule limiting minors to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with extra access dependent on a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced laws requiring guardian approval for teenagers to open social media accounts.

Even with cross-party agreement and calls from certain figures to copy Australia's path, a nationwide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Outlook

Beyond the West, further countries are likewise exploring options.

• The Malaysian government plans to ban social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• Brazil has lifted the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, world bodies strike a more nuanced stance. A major UN agency has advised that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "might have unintended consequences". The body notes that the internet can be a "lifeline" for marginalized youth and that bans should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to invest in user protection.

As this global discussion unfolds, the actions of Australia and several other countries demonstrate that policymakers internationally are no longer prepared to stand by for platforms to self-regulate.