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Australia's decisive policy to prohibit social media access for those under 16 is creating waves internationally. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and families are watching closely to see if this approach will become a template for other nations.

European Momentum

Throughout Europe, a increasing group of states are considering comparable bans.

• The Danish government has announced a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM stating that mobile devices and apps are "robbing our kids' childhood". A law is expected to be enacted in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is planning to enforce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to protect the young from the "influence of the AI".
• The Irish government is developing a digital wallet to confirm the identity and age of social media users. Authorities have indicated that an Australian-model ban is "one of the measures in reserve".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked lawmakers to enact a law lifting the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has endorsed a comparable action, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The government in The Netherlands has recommended families to restrict their kids from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has passed a symbolic motion demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 except if guardian approval is granted. While it cautions of the "habit-forming" design of these platforms, the step does not enact mandatory rules.

"A strong age limit is a useful first step," said the MEP supporting the resolution.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the administration has not ruled out a potential ban, stating that "no option is being dismissed" but insisting any decision must be "grounded in strong data".

Last year, momentum built behind a legislative effort to impose limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually weakened. Nonetheless, the government vowed to investigate the matter.

Advocacy groups have expressed apprehensions. A prominent charity founded by the family of a young person who died after encountering dangerous online content argues that a simple age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of harm when young people become eligible.

"This ban is a reaction to the inability of the tech sector to build platforms and apps that are safe and age appropriate for minors," said a prominent online safety campaigner.

The United States: A State-by-State Picture

In the United States, action is largely occurring at the regional government level amid federal gridlock.

• Utah mandates adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a bill prohibiting under-14s from joining social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a regulation capping under-16s to one hour of social media access per day, with extra time requiring a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise enacted bills mandating adult authorization for teenagers to open social media profiles.

Even with bipartisan support and calls from various individuals to follow this example, a nationwide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

International Perspectives

Beyond the West, further states are similarly considering moves.

• Malaysia intends to ban social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has increased the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, global bodies adopt a more cautious tone. Unicef has warned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even backfire". The agency points out that social networks can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable youth and that bans should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to invest in safety.

As this international conversation continues, the actions of this nation and its followers demonstrate that states around the world are less and less prepared to wait for the industry to make changes on their own.