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The Australian bold move to prohibit social media access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and parents are watching intently to see if this approach will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

The European Trend

Throughout Europe, a rising group of states are considering parallel measures.

• Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister arguing that smartphones and networks are "robbing our kids' childhood". The policy may be enacted in the coming year.
• Norway is preparing to implement a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard young people from the "power of the algorithms".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to confirm the user details of social media account holders. Authorities have suggested that an Australia-style ban remains "one of the measures in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has urged the legislature to pass a bill lifting the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has endorsed a related move, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has recommended guardians to restrict their youngsters from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the EU parliament has passed a advisory resolution calling for a ban for under-16s except if guardian approval is given. While it highlights of the "compulsive" quality of these apps, the step does not enact mandatory rules.

"An effective age restriction is a good starting point," said one parliamentarian behind the initiative.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Approach

In the UK, the administration has remained open to a potential ban, stating that "nothing is off the table" but insisting any action must be "grounded in strong data".

Last year, interest gathered behind a proposal to impose controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end weakened. Instead, the government committed to conduct more studies the issue.

Charities have raised concerns. One foundation set up by the loved ones of a girl who died after encountering dangerous platform posts contends that a strict age ban could fail to protect children and could result in a "dangerous transition" of exposure when users turn 16.

"This ban is a reaction to the inability of the Silicon Valley to design platforms and apps that are safe and fit for children," commented a prominent child protection advocate.

The US: A State-by-State Landscape

In the United States, regulation is mostly happening at the regional level due to federal gridlock.

• The state of Utah requires guardian permission for minors to use social media and controls overnight use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a measure banning children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it faces court battles.
• Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting teenagers to a single hour of social media access per day, with any further time requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted laws requiring parental consent for minors to set up social media presences.

Even with bipartisan support and calls from some figures to follow this lead, a US-wide ban is currently seen as unlikely.

International Perspectives

Outside of Europe and the US, other countries are also exploring options.

• Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for under-16s effective next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has increased the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

However, world organizations adopt a more measured stance. Unicef has advised that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "could backfire". The organization notes that the internet can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable young people and that bans should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to invest in child safeguards.

As this global conversation continues, the policies of the Australian government and several other countries demonstrate that governments globally are less and less prepared to delay for tech companies to make changes on their own.