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The Australian bold action to ban social networking access for those under 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Officials, safety advocates, and guardians are watching with great interest to see if this tactic will become a template for other nations.

The European Trend

Throughout Europe, a rising number of nations are considering similar measures.

• The Danish government plans a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister declaring that smartphones and apps are "stealing our kids' innocence". The policy may be formalized in the coming year.
• Norway is planning to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to shield children from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is working on a online verification tool to verify the identity and age of social media account holders. Authorities have stated that an similar ban could be "an measures on the table".
• In Spain, the leader has called on parliament to pass a law raising the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has endorsed a related move, including an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has recommended guardians to prevent their kids from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has approved a non-binding resolution supporting a ban for minors without guardian approval is provided. Although it cautions of the "compulsive" quality of these apps, the move does not create mandatory rules.

"A strong age restriction is a good foundation," commented one MEP supporting the initiative.

Britain: A Cautious Eye

Across Britain, the leadership has not ruled out a possible ban, emphasizing that "no option is discarded" but insisting any decision must be "grounded in robust data".

Previously, momentum grew behind a proposal to impose controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately modified. Instead, the government committed to further research the matter.

Charities have expressed warnings. One foundation set up by the relatives of a teenager who was lost after viewing harmful social media material argues that a blanket age ban could fail to improve online safety and could create a "cliff edge" of exposure when teens become eligible.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the failure of the Silicon Valley to design platforms and apps that are secure and age appropriate for children," stated a prominent online safety campaigner.

The United States: A State-by-State Landscape

Stateside, regulation is mostly happening at the local government level due to federal stalemate.

• Utah demands adult approval for under-18s to use social media and limits overnight use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a bill banning under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has passed a rule limiting minors to a single hour of social media use per day, with extra access dependent on parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced measures requiring adult authorization for teenagers to set up social media presences.

Despite cross-party agreement and proposals from some politicians to follow this path, a nationwide ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.

International Outlook

Outside of these regions, further states are likewise taking action.

• Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for teenagers effective next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

Yet, global agencies take a more nuanced tone. A major UN agency has warned that social media bans pose dangers and "could have unintended consequences". The agency notes that online platforms can be a "critical link" for isolated children and that government action should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to invest in user protection.

While this international discussion evolves, the policies of the Australian government and its followers demonstrate that governments internationally are less and less content to wait for platforms to self-regulate.