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The Australian controversial action to restrict social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples internationally. Officials, campaigners, and families are observing intently to see if this tactic will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

European Trend

In Europe, a rising group of states are considering parallel bans.

• Denmark plans a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister declaring that smartphones and platforms are "taking away our youngsters' innocence". Legislation may be formalized next year.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to introduce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard children from the "power of the AI".
• The Irish government is introducing a online verification tool to verify the user details of social media users. The media minister have indicated that an Australian-model ban is "an measures on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has urged the legislature to approve a law lifting the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has recommended a comparable move, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has urged families to block their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has passed a advisory statement calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 unless guardian approval is granted. Although it highlights of the "addictive" quality of these apps, the move does not enact binding law.

"A clear age barrier is a good foundation," commented the MEP behind the initiative.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the government has kept open a potential ban, stating that "nothing is discarded" but maintaining any decision must be "grounded in conclusive data".

Last year, interest built behind a legislative effort to enact limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually watered down. Instead, the administration pledged to further research the issue.

Advocacy groups have expressed apprehensions. An organization founded by the relatives of a girl who was lost after being exposed to harmful social media material suggests that a simple age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could lead to a "cliff edge" of exposure when young people reach the legal age.

"This ban is a answer to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to build tools that are secure and suitable for children," commented a leading child protection advocate.

The United States: A State-by-State Picture

Stateside, regulation is mostly occurring at the regional level amid national gridlock.

• Utah demands adult approval for under-18s to use social media and limits late-night use.
• The state of Florida has passed a law prohibiting children under fourteen from joining social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• Virginia has passed a rule limiting minors to one hour of social media time per day, with any further time requiring a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also introduced laws mandating adult authorization for teenagers to open social media accounts.

Despite cross-party agreement and suggestions from various figures to mimic the Australian path, a federal ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.

International Perspectives

Apart from Europe and the US, other states are similarly exploring options.

• Malaysia aims to restrict social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• Brazil has increased the required age for one major platform to 16.

Yet, global organizations strike a more nuanced stance. A major UN agency has advised that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even have unintended consequences". The body points out that social networks can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable children and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to invest in user protection.

Even as this international debate unfolds, the actions of the Australian government and several other countries show that governments internationally are less and less content to wait for tech companies to self-regulate.