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The Australian decisive move to prohibit social platforms access for young people below 16 is creating waves internationally. Officials, safety advocates, and parents are observing intently to see if this tactic will set a precedent for countries abroad.

European Trend

Across Europe, a increasing group of nations are moving toward parallel measures.

• The Danish government has announced a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister arguing that phones and networks are "stealing our kids' innocence". A law may be formalized next year.
• The Norwegian government is planning to enforce a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard young people from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is working on a digital wallet to authenticate the age and identity of social media users. Authorities have stated that an Australia-style ban is "an options under consideration".
• In Spain, the president has asked the legislature to pass a bill lifting the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a comparable move, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has recommended guardians to block their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has passed a non-binding statement demanding a ban for under-16s without a parent decides otherwise is given. Although it cautions of the "compulsive" design of these services, the step does not create enforceable legislation.

"An effective age barrier is a useful starting point," commented the European lawmaker supporting the initiative.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the government has remained open to a possible ban, emphasizing that "no option is off the table" but maintaining any decision must be "supported by conclusive evidence".

Previously, interest gathered behind a legislative effort to impose restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end modified. Instead, the administration vowed to investigate the issue.

Campaign organizations have voiced apprehensions. An organization established by the loved ones of a young person who was lost after encountering harmful social media material contends that a blanket age ban could fail to improve online safety and could result in a "cliff edge" of risk when young people become eligible.

"This ban is a reaction to the refusal of the tech sector to design platforms and apps that are appropriate and age appropriate for minors," stated a prominent online safety campaigner.

America: A Decentralized Picture

In the United States, legislation is mostly unfolding at the local government level due to national inaction.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• Florida has enacted a law banning those below 14 from accessing social media, though it faces court battles.
• Virginia has passed a law limiting minors to one hour of social media access per day, with additional time requiring adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also enacted bills requiring guardian approval for under-16s to open social media profiles.

Even with cross-party agreement and calls from certain politicians to mimic this path, a federal ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Global Outlook

Apart from Europe and the US, further nations are likewise exploring options.

• The Malaysian government aims to ban social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
• Brazil has lifted the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, world organizations take a more nuanced tone. Unicef has advised that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "may even have unintended consequences". The organization notes that the internet can be a "vital connection" for isolated young people and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to invest in safety.

As this international conversation unfolds, the policies of the Australian government and several other countries show that policymakers internationally are less and less willing to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.