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Australia's bold move to prohibit social media access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Lawmakers, campaigners, and families are watching with great interest to see if this approach will set a precedent for countries abroad.

European Movement

In Europe, a rising number of states are considering comparable bans.

• Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the PM stating that smartphones and networks are "stealing our kids' innocence". Legislation could be formalized in the coming year.
• Norway is preparing to implement a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to protect children from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• Ireland is developing a online verification tool to confirm the age and identity of social media participants. Officials have indicated that an Australian-model ban is "one of the options under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has asked the legislature to pass a law raising the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has suggested a related action, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The administration in the Netherlands has advised parents to prevent their children from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has passed a non-binding motion supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 without a parent decides otherwise is given. While it warns of the "addictive" design of these services, the move does not enact mandatory rules.

"A strong age barrier is a good foundation," said the European lawmaker behind the initiative.

The UK: A Cautious Stance

For the United Kingdom, the administration has not ruled out a potential ban, emphasizing that "nothing is off the table" but maintaining any action must be "grounded in strong evidence".

Last year, momentum gathered behind a proposal to enact restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end watered down. However, the government pledged to investigate the issue.

Charities have raised concerns. A prominent charity founded by the family of a teenager who died after encountering disturbing online content suggests that a strict age ban might not improve online safety and could lead to a "cliff edge" of harm when users become eligible.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the refusal of the social media companies to build platforms and apps that are appropriate and fit for children," said a influential peer.

America: A Decentralized Approach

Stateside, legislation is primarily unfolding at the regional government level against a backdrop of country-wide inaction.

• The state of Utah demands parental consent for minors to use social media and limits late-night use.
• Florida has signed a bill prohibiting children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a law restricting teenagers to a single hour of social media use per day, with additional use dependent on parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed bills requiring parental consent for minors to create social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and proposals from certain figures to follow Australia's example, a nationwide ban is presently seen as unlikely.

International Outlook

Beyond these regions, further states are likewise considering moves.

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

However, world organizations adopt a more cautious tone. A major UN agency has advised that age-based restrictions carry risks and "could have unintended consequences". The organization points out that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for marginalized young people and that government action should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to invest in safety.

While this international conversation evolves, the policies of Australia and several other countries demonstrate that states around the world are no longer content to stand by for the industry to make changes on their own.