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Australia's bold policy to restrict social media access for young people below 16 is creating waves internationally. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and families are monitoring with great interest to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

Across Europe Momentum

In Europe, a increasing chorus of nations are considering similar measures.

• The Danish government has stated a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the PM stating that mobile devices and platforms are "robbing our children's youth". Legislation is expected to be passed next year.
• Norway is preparing to implement a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard young people from the "influence of the AI".
• Ireland is working on a digital ID system to authenticate the user details of social media account holders. The media minister have stated that an Australia-style ban could be "an measures on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the president has asked the legislature to pass a law increasing the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a comparable action, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has recommended parents to prevent their children from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has approved a advisory motion calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 except if a parent decides otherwise is given. While it warns of the "addictive" design of these apps, the resolution does not establish mandatory rules.

"A strong age barrier is a useful first step," said one parliamentarian driving the resolution.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Eye

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has kept open a possible ban, arguing that "nothing is discarded" but stressing any action must be "grounded in conclusive data".

Previously, momentum built behind a legislative effort to impose limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end weakened. Nonetheless, the government committed to conduct more studies the issue.

Advocacy groups have expressed apprehensions. An organization founded by the relatives of a young person who was lost after viewing harmful online content contends that a simple age ban might not make platforms safer and could create a "cliff edge" of harm when teens reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a response to the refusal of the social media companies to build products and services that are secure and age appropriate for children," stated a prominent peer.

America: A Fragmented Approach

In the United States, regulation is largely occurring at the state level due to federal gridlock.

• The state of Utah requires parental consent for under-18s to use social media and controls late-night use.
• The state of Florida has passed a measure banning those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has approved a law limiting minors to one hour of social media access per day, with additional use needing adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed bills demanding parental consent for minors to set up social media accounts.

Despite widespread concern and proposals from certain politicians to follow this example, a US-wide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Global Outlook

Beyond Europe and the US, further countries are also considering moves.

• Malaysia intends to ban social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• Brazil has lifted the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

But, global bodies adopt a more nuanced stance. Unicef has cautioned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "could have unintended consequences". The body highlights that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for marginalized young people and that government action should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to improve user protection.

Even as this worldwide debate continues, the steps of the Australian government and its followers demonstrate that states internationally are increasingly prepared to wait for platforms to act voluntarily.