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The nation's bold policy to prohibit social media access for those under 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and guardians are watching with great interest to see if this approach will become a template for other nations.

Across Europe Trend

Across Europe, a rising number of countries are moving toward similar restrictions.

• The Danish government plans a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister stating that smartphones and apps are "robbing our kids' innocence". The policy may be passed next year.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to enforce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to protect the young from the "power of the AI".
• Ireland is introducing a digital ID system to verify the age and identity of social media account holders. Authorities have stated that an Australia-style ban could be "one of the options under consideration".
• In Spain, the president has asked parliament to enact a bill lifting the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has recommended a related move, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has recommended guardians to prevent their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has adopted a advisory motion supporting a ban for under-16s unless guardian approval is granted. Although it cautions of the "compulsive" design of these services, the move does not create mandatory rules.

"A clear age barrier is a useful foundation," stated one MEP supporting the initiative.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Approach

Across Britain, the administration has kept open a future ban, emphasizing that "nothing is off the table" but stressing any policy must be "supported by robust research".

Earlier, momentum grew behind a proposal to enact limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually watered down. Nonetheless, the administration pledged to further research the matter.

Charities have expressed warnings. An organization set up by the relatives of a young person who took her own life after viewing harmful social media material argues that a strict age ban may not improve online safety and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of risk when users reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the refusal of the social media companies to build tools that are secure and suitable for young users," said a leading peer.

America: A Fragmented Approach

In the United States, legislation is primarily unfolding at the state level due to national gridlock.

• Utah demands adult approval for under-18s to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has passed a measure barring children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has approved a regulation limiting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with any further time dependent on parental permission.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed bills requiring guardian approval for teenagers to set up social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and calls from various politicians to copy this path, a US-wide ban is right now seen as improbable.

Global Perspectives

Outside of Europe and the US, additional states are likewise considering moves.

• The Malaysian government aims to prohibit social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• Brazil has raised the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, international agencies take a more measured stance. A major UN agency has cautioned that social media bans carry risks and "could prove counterproductive". The organization points out that online platforms can be a "critical link" for vulnerable youth and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to improve child safeguards.

As this worldwide discussion evolves, the steps of this nation and several other countries demonstrate that policymakers around the world are no longer prepared to wait for the industry to make changes on their own.