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The Australian controversial policy to ban social platforms access for those under 16 is sparking debate worldwide. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and families are observing with great interest to see if this approach will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Trend

Throughout Europe, a increasing group of nations are exploring similar measures.

• Denmark plans a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister declaring that phones and platforms are "taking away our children's innocence". Legislation is expected to be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is planning to implement a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard the young from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is working on a digital wallet to authenticate the age and identity of social media users. Authorities have indicated that an Australian-model ban is "an measures in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has urged lawmakers to enact a bill raising the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a similar step, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The government in the Netherlands has recommended families to block their children from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the EU parliament has adopted a symbolic motion supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 except if parental consent is given. Although it warns of the "addictive" nature of these platforms, the move does not establish binding law.

"A strong age limit is a good foundation," said the European lawmaker supporting the initiative.

Britain: A Cautious Eye

For the United Kingdom, the administration has kept open a future ban, arguing that "no option is off the table" but insisting any action must be "supported by conclusive data".

Previously, support built behind a bill to enact controls on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately weakened. Nonetheless, the government pledged to further research the topic.

Campaign organizations have expressed concerns. A prominent charity established by the relatives of a young person who took her own life after encountering harmful online content argues that a blanket age ban may not make platforms safer and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of harm when young people reach the legal age.

"This ban is a reaction to the inability of the social media companies to build platforms and apps that are safe and age appropriate for minors," said a prominent peer.

The US: A State-by-State Picture

In the United States, action is mostly unfolding at the state government level amid country-wide inaction.

• Utah mandates adult approval for minors to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• The state of Florida has passed a law barring those below 14 from accessing social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• Virginia has enacted a law capping under-16s to a single hour of social media time per day, with extra access requiring adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced laws requiring adult authorization for under-16s to set up social media profiles.

Despite bipartisan support and proposals from certain figures to mimic Australia's path, a nationwide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

International Outlook

Apart from these regions, other nations are likewise exploring options.

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

However, global bodies adopt a more nuanced position. The UN children's agency has advised that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "might have unintended consequences". The organization points out that online platforms can be a "critical link" for isolated young people and that bans should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to prioritize safety.

While this international conversation continues, the steps of this nation and others indicate that governments internationally are increasingly content to stand by for platforms to make changes on their own.