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The Australian decisive move to prohibit social networking access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples internationally. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and parents are observing with great interest to see if this approach will set a precedent for countries abroad.

European Momentum

In Europe, a growing number of nations are considering comparable bans.

• Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister declaring that smartphones and apps are "robbing our children's youth". A law could be passed soon.
• The Norwegian government is set to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to protect children from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is introducing a digital wallet to authenticate the identity and age of social media users. Officials have stated that an Australian-model ban remains "a potential options under consideration".
• In Spain, the leader has asked lawmakers to pass a law raising the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a similar step, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The administration in The Netherlands has advised families to prevent their children from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has adopted a non-binding motion demanding a ban for minors without a parent decides otherwise is granted. Although it warns of the "compulsive" quality of these apps, the resolution does not enact enforceable legislation.

"A clear age limit is a useful starting point," stated the MEP driving the resolution.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Stance

For the United Kingdom, the government has kept open a potential ban, stating that "no option is off the table" but insisting any decision must be "based on conclusive evidence".

Previously, interest grew behind a proposal to introduce restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was eventually weakened. Nonetheless, the government vowed to further research the matter.

Campaign organizations have expressed warnings. An organization founded by the family of a young person who died after encountering disturbing social media material suggests that a strict age ban might not protect children and could lead to a "cliff edge" of harm when users turn 16.

"This ban is a response to the refusal of the tech sector to design tools that are secure and suitable for young users," commented a leading peer.

The United States: A Fragmented Landscape

Across America, action is mostly unfolding at the local level amid country-wide stalemate.

• Utah requires adult approval for minors to use social media and limits late-night use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a law banning children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has approved a law restricting under-16s to one hour of social media access per day, with additional access needing a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed laws requiring parental consent for teenagers to create social media profiles.

Even with widespread concern and suggestions from various figures to copy Australia's example, a federal ban is currently seen as improbable.

Worldwide Outlook

Beyond Europe and the US, other countries are also taking action.

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

Yet, world bodies strike a more measured tone. Unicef has warned that social media bans have downsides and "may even have unintended consequences". The agency notes that online platforms can be a "critical link" for marginalized children and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to improve child safeguards.

As this international discussion continues, the policies of the Australian government and others indicate that governments around the world are no longer willing to delay for tech companies to act voluntarily.