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Australia's decisive policy to prohibit social platforms access for young people below 16 is creating waves around the globe. Politicians, campaigners, and parents are monitoring closely to see if this strategy will become a template for other nations.

The European Momentum

Across Europe, a rising group of countries are considering parallel restrictions.

• The Danish government plans a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the leader declaring that mobile devices and platforms are "robbing our children's youth". A law may be enacted next year.
• Norway is planning to introduce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard children from the "influence of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to confirm the age and identity of social media participants. Officials have stated that an Australian-model ban is "one of the measures in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has asked the legislature to approve a proposal lifting the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has suggested a similar action, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has advised parents to restrict their youngsters from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has adopted a symbolic resolution demanding a ban for minors except if a parent decides otherwise is given. While it warns of the "addictive" design of these services, the step does not enact binding law.

"An effective age restriction is a useful starting point," commented the MEP behind the initiative.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Approach

In the UK, the government has kept open a possible ban, stating that "no option is discarded" but insisting any action must be "supported by conclusive research".

Earlier, momentum built behind a legislative effort to impose restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually weakened. Instead, the government pledged to investigate the topic.

Advocacy groups have voiced concerns. A prominent charity founded by the family of a girl who was lost after viewing dangerous social media material suggests that a strict age ban could fail to protect children and could result in a "dangerous transition" of harm when young people turn 16.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the failure of the social media companies to create products and services that are appropriate and age appropriate for young users," said a leading child protection advocate.

America: A Decentralized Picture

In the United States, action is mostly happening at the regional level due to federal gridlock.

• Utah mandates adult approval for minors to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• Florida has passed a bill prohibiting under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• Virginia has passed a law capping teenagers to a single hour of social media time per day, with extra use needing a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced laws mandating guardian approval for minors to create social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and suggestions from some politicians to mimic Australia's lead, a federal ban is currently seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Outlook

Outside of the West, further countries are similarly taking action.

• The Malaysian government plans to restrict social media for under-16s effective next year.
• Brazil has increased the required age for Instagram to 16.

But, international organizations strike a more measured stance. Unicef has cautioned that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "might backfire". The organization points out that social networks can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable youth and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to prioritize child safeguards.

As this global debate unfolds, the steps of this nation and several other countries demonstrate that policymakers globally are no longer content to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.