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The Australian bold move to prohibit social media access for young people below 16 is sparking debate internationally. Politicians, safety advocates, and parents are watching with great interest to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for other nations.

European Trend

In Europe, a rising chorus of nations are exploring similar measures.

• Denmark has announced a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM declaring that mobile devices and platforms are "taking away our children's youth". The policy could be enacted in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to enforce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard young people from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is working on a digital ID system to authenticate the identity and age of social media users. The media minister have suggested that an Australia-style ban could be "one of the tools on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has asked lawmakers to approve a proposal lifting the access age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has recommended a comparable move, including an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has urged parents to restrict their kids from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has passed a non-binding motion supporting a ban for under-16s unless parental consent is provided. Although it cautions of the "compulsive" design of these services, the resolution does not create mandatory rules.

"A clear age restriction is a solid starting point," stated the MEP behind the resolution.

The United Kingdom: A Watchful Eye

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has kept open a future ban, arguing that "no option is off the table" but stressing any decision must be "based on strong data".

Last year, interest gathered behind a legislative effort to introduce limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually weakened. Nonetheless, the administration committed to investigate the matter.

Advocacy groups have voiced warnings. A prominent charity founded by the family of a young person who took her own life after encountering harmful social media material contends that a strict age ban could fail to improve online safety and could create a "cliff edge" of risk when young people turn 16.

"The Australian ban is a response to the refusal of the tech sector to create products and services that are appropriate and age appropriate for minors," said a leading peer.

The United States: A Decentralized Landscape

In the United States, legislation is mostly occurring at the state level due to federal gridlock.

• The state of Utah demands guardian permission for minors to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a law prohibiting those below 14 from joining social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• Virginia has enacted a regulation limiting minors to a single hour of social media access per day, with any further time needing parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced measures mandating guardian approval for teenagers to create social media presences.

Even with cross-party agreement and proposals from certain individuals to copy Australia's example, a US-wide ban is presently seen as unlikely.

Global Perspectives

Outside of the West, additional countries are also considering moves.

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

Yet, world bodies take a more cautious tone. Unicef has advised that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "could have unintended consequences". The organization highlights that the internet can be a "vital connection" for isolated young people and that bans should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to prioritize safety.

As this international debate continues, the actions of this nation and several other countries indicate that states globally are no longer prepared to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.