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The Australian bold move to prohibit social media access for those under 16 is sparking debate worldwide. Politicians, campaigners, and families are monitoring with great interest to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

The European Trend

In Europe, a rising group of countries are considering comparable measures.

• The Danish government plans a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the PM stating that phones and networks are "taking away our kids' youth". The policy could be enacted soon.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to enforce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to protect children from the "manipulative force of the AI".
• The Irish government is working on a digital ID system to verify the age and identity of social media participants. Authorities have indicated that an Australia-style ban remains "a potential options in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the president has asked the legislature to enact a law raising the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has endorsed a similar action, including an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The administration in The Netherlands has advised guardians to restrict their kids from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has approved a non-binding resolution supporting a ban for minors unless a parent decides otherwise is given. Even though it cautions of the "habit-forming" design of these services, the step does not create enforceable legislation.

"A clear age restriction is a good foundation," said one European lawmaker driving the measure.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Stance

Across Britain, the government has kept open a possible ban, stating that "nothing is discarded" but stressing any action must be "based on conclusive data".

Last year, interest gathered behind a proposal to impose controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end watered down. However, the government vowed to investigate the matter.

Advocacy groups have expressed warnings. An organization established by the family of a girl who took her own life after encountering harmful online content suggests that a strict age ban may not protect children and could result in a "dangerous transition" of risk when young people reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the inability of the social media companies to design tools that are appropriate and suitable for children," said a influential child protection advocate.

The United States: A Fragmented Landscape

Stateside, action is primarily unfolding at the local level amid federal gridlock.

• The state of Utah demands parental consent for under-18s to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• Florida has signed a measure barring children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it faces court battles.
• Virginia has enacted a law capping under-16s to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with any further access needing parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed bills mandating guardian approval for teenagers to set up social media profiles.

Even with widespread concern and calls from various figures to mimic the Australian example, a US-wide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

International Outlook

Apart from these regions, additional states are similarly considering moves.

• Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• Brazil has increased the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, world agencies strike a more cautious tone. The UN children's agency has advised that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "may even prove counterproductive". The agency notes that the internet can be a "vital connection" for isolated children and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to invest in safety.

While this international conversation unfolds, the policies of Australia and its followers show that governments globally are less and less prepared to delay for platforms to self-regulate.