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Australia's decisive policy to prohibit social media access for those under 16 is creating waves around the globe. Politicians, child protection groups, and families are monitoring intently to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

European Movement

Across Europe, a growing group of states are moving toward similar measures.

• Denmark has announced a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister arguing that phones and apps are "taking away our youngsters' childhood". The policy is expected to be enacted next year.
• Norway is set to implement a access barrier of 15, citing the need to safeguard children from the "power of the AI".
• Ireland is introducing a digital wallet to verify the identity and age of social media participants. The media minister have suggested that an Australia-style ban is "a potential options in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has called on the legislature to approve a bill increasing the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a comparable move, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The administration in the Netherlands has advised guardians to block their children from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has approved a advisory resolution demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 except if parental consent is provided. While it cautions of the "habit-forming" design of these apps, the resolution does not create enforceable legislation.

"A strong age barrier is a good starting point," stated one MEP behind the initiative.

Britain: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has remained open to a future ban, stating that "no measure is discarded" but maintaining any decision must be "supported by strong research".

Last year, interest grew behind a bill to introduce restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was in the end watered down. Nonetheless, the administration pledged to investigate the matter.

Charities have raised apprehensions. A prominent charity founded by the family of a teenager who died after being exposed to harmful platform posts argues that a simple age ban may not improve online safety and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of harm when young people reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the failure of the tech sector to create platforms and apps that are safe and suitable for minors," said a prominent online safety campaigner.

The US: A Fragmented Landscape

In the United States, action is mostly occurring at the local level due to federal gridlock.

• The state of Utah demands guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and limits overnight use.
• The state of Florida has passed a bill banning under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a rule restricting minors to a single hour of social media time per day, with additional access needing adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced laws mandating parental consent for minors to create social media profiles.

Despite widespread concern and suggestions from various politicians to follow the Australian example, a US-wide ban is right now seen as improbable.

Worldwide Views

Beyond the West, other countries are also exploring options.

• Malaysia intends to ban social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, world agencies take a more nuanced position. The UN children's agency has advised that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "might have unintended consequences". The agency highlights that social networks can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable youth and that government action should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to prioritize user protection.

While this global debate continues, the actions of Australia and its followers show that states globally are increasingly content to delay for tech companies to self-regulate.