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The Australian bold policy to prohibit social platforms access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Officials, safety advocates, and families are monitoring intently to see if this approach will become a template for countries abroad.

The European Movement

In Europe, a increasing number of states are exploring similar bans.

• Denmark has stated a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the PM declaring that mobile devices and networks are "taking away our youngsters' childhood". Legislation could be formalized soon.
• The Norwegian government is planning to introduce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to protect children from the "power of the algorithms".
• Ireland is introducing a digital ID system to authenticate the identity and age of social media participants. Officials have indicated that an Australia-style ban is "one of the options under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has urged parliament to enact a proposal lifting the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has recommended a related move, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has recommended parents to prevent their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has passed a advisory motion demanding a ban for under-16s except if guardian approval is given. Even though it cautions of the "habit-forming" quality of these services, the step does not create binding law.

"A strong age barrier is a useful first step," commented one European lawmaker supporting the measure.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Approach

In the UK, the government has kept open a possible ban, arguing that "nothing is discarded" but maintaining any action must be "based on strong evidence".

Earlier, support built behind a bill to impose limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end weakened. Nonetheless, the government committed to investigate the topic.

Advocacy groups have expressed apprehensions. An organization set up by the family of a young person who took her own life after being exposed to harmful platform posts argues that a strict age ban might not protect children and could create a "cliff edge" of harm when users reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the inability of the tech sector to create platforms and apps that are safe and suitable for young users," said a prominent online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Fragmented Landscape

In the United States, regulation is primarily occurring at the local level due to federal gridlock.

• Utah requires guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• Florida has passed a law banning under-14s from accessing social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a rule capping teenagers to a single hour of social media access per day, with any further use requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise introduced measures demanding adult authorization for teenagers to create social media profiles.

Even with bipartisan support and suggestions from some individuals to follow this lead, a US-wide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

International Outlook

Apart from the West, other countries are likewise exploring options.

• The Malaysian government intends to prohibit social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, international bodies strike a more cautious stance. Unicef has cautioned that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "could prove counterproductive". The body points out that the internet can be a "lifeline" for marginalized young people and that government action should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to prioritize user protection.

While this international debate evolves, the actions of this nation and several other countries show that states internationally are less and less content to stand by for tech companies to make changes on their own.