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The Australian decisive move to prohibit social networking access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and families are observing with great interest to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

Across Europe Movement

Throughout Europe, a rising number of countries are exploring parallel bans.

• Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister arguing that mobile devices and apps are "robbing our children's innocence". The policy is expected to be passed soon.
• Norway is planning to implement a age restriction of 15, citing the need to safeguard the young from the "power of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the user details of social media users. Authorities have stated that an Australia-style ban remains "a potential measures on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has called on the legislature to enact a proposal raising the access age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a comparable action, including an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The administration in the Netherlands has urged guardians to restrict their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.

Across the European Union, the EU parliament has passed a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for minors unless guardian approval is provided. While it highlights of the "habit-forming" nature of these platforms, the resolution does not establish binding law.

"An effective age limit is a solid starting point," commented one European lawmaker driving the initiative.

The United Kingdom: A Watchful Stance

For the United Kingdom, the government has not ruled out a future ban, stating that "nothing is discarded" but insisting any policy must be "based on robust research".

Previously, interest grew behind a proposal to enact controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end weakened. However, the government vowed to further research the topic.

Advocacy groups have expressed apprehensions. An organization founded by the loved ones of a teenager who died after being exposed to dangerous platform posts contends that a simple age ban may not protect children and could result in a "dangerous transition" of harm when users reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a response to the inability of the tech sector to design platforms and apps that are safe and suitable for young users," commented a leading peer.

The US: A Decentralized Picture

Stateside, action is primarily occurring at the state level due to federal gridlock.

• Utah mandates parental consent for under-18s to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a law prohibiting children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has approved a rule restricting minors to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with additional use requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted bills requiring adult authorization for minors to create social media profiles.

Even with bipartisan support and calls from some individuals to mimic Australia's example, a nationwide ban is right now seen as improbable.

International Views

Beyond these regions, other countries are also considering moves.

• Malaysia aims to restrict social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• Brazil has increased the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, global organizations adopt a more nuanced stance. A major UN agency has advised that social media bans have downsides and "might prove counterproductive". The agency notes that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for isolated children and that bans should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to invest in user protection.

Even as this worldwide discussion continues, the actions of the Australian government and several other countries show that governments internationally are no longer content to wait for the industry to self-regulate.