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The Australian decisive action to prohibit social networking access for those under 16 is creating waves around the globe. Politicians, campaigners, and families are watching with great interest to see if this strategy will become a template for the rest of the world.

European Movement

Throughout Europe, a growing group of states are considering parallel bans.

• Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister declaring that mobile devices and networks are "stealing our children's innocence". Legislation may be passed soon.
• Norway is planning to introduce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to safeguard the young from the "influence of the AI".
• Ireland is developing a digital wallet to confirm the age and identity of social media account holders. Officials have suggested that an Australia-style ban could be "one of the options on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has called on parliament to pass a bill increasing the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a similar step, including an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in the Netherlands has urged guardians to restrict their youngsters from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has adopted a advisory statement demanding a ban for under-16s except if a parent decides otherwise is given. Although it cautions of the "compulsive" nature of these services, the step does not create binding law.

"An effective age restriction is a solid first step," commented a leading European lawmaker behind the resolution.

Britain: A Watchful Approach

In the UK, the leadership has not ruled out a possible ban, emphasizing that "no option is discarded" but maintaining any policy must be "grounded in conclusive data".

Previously, momentum gathered behind a bill to impose restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually watered down. Instead, the government vowed to investigate the issue.

Campaign organizations have expressed warnings. One foundation set up by the family of a teenager who died after encountering dangerous social media material contends that a strict age ban may not make platforms safer and could lead to a "cliff edge" of exposure when teens reach the legal age.

"This ban is a response to the failure of the Silicon Valley to create tools that are safe and fit for young users," stated a prominent online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Fragmented Approach

Across America, action is mostly occurring at the state level due to country-wide gridlock.

• The state of Utah mandates guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and limits overnight use.
• Florida has signed a measure barring under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a regulation restricting teenagers to a single hour of social media use per day, with extra time needing parental permission.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise introduced laws demanding adult authorization for minors to set up social media profiles.

Despite cross-party agreement and suggestions from certain individuals to mimic this example, a US-wide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

International Perspectives

Apart from the West, further states are similarly taking action.

• Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• Brazil has lifted the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

But, global bodies adopt a more nuanced tone. A major UN agency has cautioned that social media bans have downsides and "may even prove counterproductive". The organization points out that the internet can be a "lifeline" for isolated young people and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to improve safety.

As this international debate evolves, the actions of this nation and several other countries demonstrate that policymakers globally are increasingly willing to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.