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The Australian decisive action to ban social media access for those under 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Officials, campaigners, and parents are watching with great interest to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

European Movement

Throughout Europe, a increasing group of states are moving toward similar measures.

• The Danish government has announced a ban on social media for under-15s, with the leader declaring that mobile devices and platforms are "taking away our kids' childhood". The policy may be passed in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is planning to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to protect the young from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is working on a digital ID system to verify the age and identity of social media users. Officials have stated that an similar ban remains "a potential measures under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has urged parliament to approve a bill lifting the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has endorsed a related action, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in the Netherlands has recommended families to restrict their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has adopted a non-binding resolution demanding a ban for under-16s except if guardian approval is given. While it highlights of the "compulsive" design of these services, the resolution does not enact mandatory rules.

"An effective age limit is a good foundation," stated the European lawmaker driving the initiative.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Eye

For the United Kingdom, the government has not ruled out a possible ban, arguing that "nothing is being dismissed" but maintaining any policy must be "grounded in conclusive data".

Last year, interest gathered behind a legislative effort to impose restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end weakened. However, the government committed to investigate the topic.

Charities have expressed warnings. One foundation founded by the family of a teenager who died after encountering harmful social media material contends that a strict age ban may not make platforms safer and could result in a "cliff edge" of harm when users become eligible.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the inability of the social media companies to build platforms and apps that are secure and age appropriate for minors," commented a prominent child protection advocate.

The US: A State-by-State Picture

Stateside, legislation is primarily occurring at the state level amid national gridlock.

• Utah mandates adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and limits overnight use.
• The state of Florida has signed a measure banning under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has approved a law limiting minors to one hour of social media access per day, with additional access needing adult consent.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed laws demanding guardian approval for minors to set up social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and calls from some politicians to follow the Australian lead, a US-wide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

International Perspectives

Outside of the West, additional nations are also exploring options.

• Malaysia intends to ban social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• Brazil has lifted the access age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, global agencies strike a more nuanced stance. The UN children's agency has advised that social media bans have downsides and "may even backfire". The agency points out that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable youth and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to improve user protection.

While this global debate evolves, the actions of this nation and several other countries show that policymakers around the world are less and less content to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.