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The Australian decisive move to ban social media access for those under 16 is sending ripples internationally. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and parents are monitoring intently to see if this tactic will become a template for the rest of the world.

The European Trend

Across Europe, a increasing group of nations are moving toward comparable bans.

• The Danish government has announced a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the leader arguing that mobile devices and apps are "taking away our youngsters' innocence". Legislation could be passed next year.
• Norway is planning to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to protect the young from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is working on a digital ID system to verify the identity and age of social media users. Officials have stated that an similar ban could be "one of the options on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has urged lawmakers to enact a bill increasing the access age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the president has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has recommended a similar step, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has urged parents to restrict their children from social media up to the age of 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has passed a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for minors except if guardian approval is granted. Although it warns of the "habit-forming" quality of these services, the move does not establish binding law.

"A clear age barrier is a useful foundation," stated one European lawmaker supporting the resolution.

The UK: A Cautious Approach

In the UK, the leadership has remained open to a possible ban, stating that "no option is being dismissed" but insisting any policy must be "supported by robust data".

Earlier, support grew behind a bill to enact limits on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately modified. However, the government vowed to investigate the issue.

Campaign organizations have expressed warnings. A prominent charity founded by the relatives of a young person who took her own life after encountering disturbing platform posts argues that a simple age ban may not make platforms safer and could result in a "cliff edge" of risk when young people reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the failure of the social media companies to build tools that are appropriate and suitable for minors," said a influential peer.

The United States: A State-by-State Landscape

In the United States, legislation is mostly happening at the local government level against a backdrop of national inaction.

• The state of Utah mandates adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and limits overnight use.
• Florida has enacted a law banning children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has enacted a rule limiting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with additional use requiring adult consent.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise introduced measures demanding parental consent for under-16s to create social media profiles.

Despite cross-party agreement and suggestions from some figures to follow Australia's lead, a nationwide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

Global Outlook

Beyond Europe and the US, other states are similarly taking action.

• Malaysia plans to prohibit social media for teenagers effective next year.
• Brazil has lifted the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, global bodies adopt a more nuanced tone. Unicef has advised that social media bans have downsides and "could backfire". The agency highlights that online platforms can be a "critical link" for marginalized young people and that government action should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to invest in child safeguards.

As this global conversation unfolds, the steps of the Australian government and others demonstrate that governments internationally are less and less prepared to delay for tech companies to self-regulate.