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Australia's decisive policy to prohibit social media access for those under 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Politicians, child protection groups, and parents are monitoring with great interest to see if this tactic will set a precedent for countries abroad.

The European Movement

Throughout Europe, a growing group of countries are exploring similar measures.

• Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM arguing that smartphones and networks are "stealing our kids' youth". The policy may be enacted next year.
• The Norwegian government is planning to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to shield the young from the "power of the AI".
• Ireland is introducing a digital ID system to verify the age and identity of social media account holders. Officials have stated that an Australian-model ban is "an measures under consideration".
• In Spain, the president has urged the legislature to approve a bill increasing the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a comparable step, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The government in The Netherlands has advised parents to block their children from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the EU parliament has passed a symbolic statement supporting a ban for under-16s unless guardian approval is provided. Although it highlights of the "addictive" nature of these services, the move does not create mandatory rules.

"An effective age limit is a good starting point," stated one parliamentarian supporting the measure.

The UK: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has kept open a potential ban, arguing that "nothing is off the table" but insisting any policy must be "based on robust data".

Earlier, support built behind a proposal to enact limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately weakened. However, the administration committed to conduct more studies the matter.

Campaign organizations have raised warnings. One foundation established by the loved ones of a girl who took her own life after encountering disturbing social media material suggests that a blanket age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of risk when teens reach the legal age.

"This ban is a reaction to the failure of the tech sector to create tools that are secure and suitable for children," said a prominent child protection advocate.

The United States: A Fragmented Landscape

In the United States, action is largely happening at the regional level against a backdrop of federal inaction.

• The state of Utah mandates guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• Florida has passed a measure barring under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has passed a rule restricting teenagers to a single hour of social media use per day, with additional access dependent on adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise introduced bills mandating parental consent for under-16s to set up social media presences.

Despite cross-party agreement and proposals from various figures to follow the Australian lead, a federal ban is presently seen as improbable.

Worldwide Perspectives

Beyond these regions, further nations are likewise exploring options.

• Malaysia intends to restrict social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• Brazil has lifted the required age for one major platform to 16.

However, international agencies take a more measured position. Unicef has warned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "may even have unintended consequences". The body highlights that social networks can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable children and that government action should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to invest in child safeguards.

Even as this international debate evolves, the policies of the Australian government and several other countries indicate that states globally are no longer prepared to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.