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The Australian decisive action to ban social media access for those under 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and families are observing with great interest to see if this tactic will set a precedent for other nations.

Across Europe Trend

In Europe, a growing group of countries are moving toward comparable restrictions.

• The Danish government has stated a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister declaring that smartphones and apps are "taking away our children's innocence". Legislation could be passed next year.
• Norway is planning to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard children from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is developing a digital wallet to authenticate the age and identity of social media participants. Authorities have indicated that an similar ban is "one of the tools on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked lawmakers to approve a proposal lifting the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a similar action, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has advised parents to restrict their children from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has approved a symbolic motion calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 except if parental consent is granted. Even though it warns of the "addictive" nature of these apps, the resolution does not create binding law.

"An effective age barrier is a solid first step," commented a leading European lawmaker driving the measure.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Approach

Across Britain, the government has not ruled out a possible ban, emphasizing that "no measure is discarded" but stressing any decision must be "grounded in conclusive research".

Last year, support gathered behind a legislative effort to enact controls on social media use by minors, but it was in the end watered down. Nonetheless, the administration pledged to investigate the matter.

Charities have expressed apprehensions. An organization established by the loved ones of a teenager who died after being exposed to disturbing social media material suggests that a blanket age ban could fail to improve online safety and could result in a "dangerous transition" of risk when young people turn 16.

"The Australian ban is a answer to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to design tools that are safe and fit for young users," commented a prominent peer.

The US: A Decentralized Landscape

Stateside, regulation is largely happening at the regional level against a backdrop of national stalemate.

• Utah requires adult approval for minors to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has signed a law prohibiting under-14s from accessing social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has passed a regulation limiting under-16s to a single hour of social media time per day, with additional access needing parental permission.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted laws requiring adult authorization for under-16s to open social media accounts.

Even with widespread concern and proposals from certain politicians to copy this example, a federal ban is currently seen as improbable.

Worldwide Outlook

Outside of Europe and the US, further states are also considering moves.

• Malaysia plans to ban social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
• Brazil has raised the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, world agencies take a more nuanced stance. A major UN agency has advised that age-based restrictions carry risks and "could backfire". The body notes that the internet can be a "vital connection" for marginalized young people and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to invest in user protection.

Even as this worldwide conversation unfolds, the policies of Australia and its followers demonstrate that policymakers globally are no longer content to delay for the industry to self-regulate.