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Australia's decisive policy to restrict social platforms access for those under 16 is creating waves around the globe. Lawmakers, campaigners, and families are watching intently to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for other nations.

European Momentum

Across Europe, a growing group of states are moving toward parallel restrictions.

• Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader stating that phones and networks are "taking away our children's childhood". The policy is expected to be enacted in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is set to enforce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard young people from the "influence of the AI".
• Ireland is working on a digital wallet to verify the age and identity of social media participants. The media minister have indicated that an Australia-style ban could be "one of the options on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has called on the legislature to enact a law raising the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has suggested a comparable step, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has recommended parents to block their children from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the EU parliament has approved a symbolic statement calling for a ban for minors without a parent decides otherwise is given. Even though it highlights of the "habit-forming" design of these apps, the move does not establish binding law.

"A clear age limit is a good first step," said the parliamentarian behind the resolution.

The UK: A Watchful Eye

For the United Kingdom, the administration has not ruled out a future ban, stating that "nothing is discarded" but stressing any action must be "grounded in conclusive data".

Previously, support gathered behind a legislative effort to impose limits on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately modified. Instead, the administration pledged to investigate the topic.

Advocacy groups have voiced apprehensions. An organization set up by the family of a girl who died after being exposed to dangerous social media material contends that a strict age ban may not make platforms safer and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of harm when teens reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the failure of the Silicon Valley to create tools that are secure and suitable for minors," said a leading peer.

The United States: A Fragmented Landscape

In the United States, legislation is mostly occurring at the local government level amid national stalemate.

• The state of Utah demands adult approval for minors to use social media and limits late-night use.
• Florida has passed a bill barring those below 14 from joining social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has enacted a rule limiting teenagers to a single hour of social media use per day, with additional time dependent on parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise enacted measures demanding parental consent for teenagers to create social media presences.

Even with bipartisan support and calls from some individuals to follow Australia's example, a US-wide ban is presently seen as unlikely.

International Perspectives

Outside of the West, other countries are also taking action.

• Malaysia aims to ban social media for teenagers effective next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has lifted the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, international agencies strike a more nuanced stance. The UN children's agency has cautioned that social media bans have downsides and "may even prove counterproductive". The organization notes that social networks can be a "vital connection" for marginalized young people and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to prioritize user protection.

Even as this worldwide discussion unfolds, the policies of this nation and several other countries demonstrate that states around the world are increasingly prepared to stand by for tech companies to self-regulate.