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Australia's controversial move to restrict social platforms access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Politicians, safety advocates, and guardians are observing with great interest to see if this approach will become a template for other nations.

Across Europe Movement

Throughout Europe, a growing number of countries are considering comparable restrictions.

• Denmark has stated a ban on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister declaring that mobile devices and apps are "taking away our children's innocence". The policy may be passed in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is planning to implement a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to protect young people from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the identity and age of social media users. The media minister have stated that an Australia-style ban is "a potential tools on the table".
• In Spain, the president has called on the legislature to approve a bill lifting the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a related move, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has urged families to restrict their youngsters from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has passed a non-binding motion demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 unless guardian approval is given. Although it cautions of the "addictive" quality of these services, the move does not enact enforceable legislation.

"A clear age barrier is a solid foundation," commented a leading parliamentarian driving the measure.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the government has not ruled out a potential ban, emphasizing that "nothing is off the table" but stressing any decision must be "based on strong evidence".

Last year, support built behind a proposal to enact restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end modified. Instead, the government vowed to investigate the matter.

Campaign organizations have voiced concerns. A prominent charity established by the relatives of a teenager who died after encountering disturbing social media material argues that a strict age ban might not protect children and could lead to a "cliff edge" of exposure when young people become eligible.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the failure of the social media companies to build products and services that are safe and suitable for young users," said a prominent peer.

The United States: A State-by-State Picture

Stateside, legislation is mostly unfolding at the local government level amid national inaction.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has signed a bill banning those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• Virginia has passed a rule restricting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with additional use needing adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise passed laws demanding guardian approval for teenagers to set up social media accounts.

Despite bipartisan support and suggestions from certain figures to follow this path, a US-wide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

International Outlook

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

• Malaysia plans to prohibit social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has increased the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

However, international agencies take a more measured tone. A major UN agency has cautioned that social media bans have downsides and "may even prove counterproductive". The body notes that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for marginalized youth and that bans should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to prioritize safety.

Even as this global debate unfolds, the policies of this nation and others show that policymakers globally are no longer willing to wait for the industry to act voluntarily.