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The Australian controversial policy to prohibit social networking access for those under 16 is sending ripples internationally. Lawmakers, campaigners, and parents are monitoring closely to see if this tactic will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Trend

In Europe, a growing group of countries are exploring comparable restrictions.

• Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister arguing that phones and networks are "robbing our kids' youth". A law may be enacted soon.
• Norway is set to implement a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to protect the young from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is introducing a digital wallet to verify the age and identity of social media participants. Authorities have suggested that an Australia-style ban is "one of the tools under consideration".
• In Spain, the leader has urged the legislature to approve a bill lifting the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a related action, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has recommended parents to prevent their youngsters from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has adopted a symbolic statement demanding a ban for under-16s without a parent decides otherwise is granted. While it highlights of the "addictive" design of these apps, the move does not enact mandatory rules.

"An effective age barrier is a good first step," said a leading European lawmaker driving the initiative.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Eye

Across Britain, the government has kept open a potential ban, emphasizing that "nothing is being dismissed" but maintaining any decision must be "grounded in strong evidence".

Earlier, interest built behind a legislative effort to impose limits on social media use by minors, but it was in the end watered down. Instead, the government pledged to investigate the issue.

Campaign organizations have expressed concerns. One foundation established by the relatives of a girl who took her own life after viewing dangerous online content argues that a strict age ban could fail to improve online safety and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of risk when users become eligible.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the refusal of the tech sector to create platforms and apps that are safe and fit for children," said a prominent peer.

The United States: A Fragmented Approach

In the United States, legislation is mostly happening at the state level against a backdrop of national stalemate.

• The state of Utah requires adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and limits late-night use.
• The state of Florida has signed a measure barring those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it faces court battles.
• Virginia has enacted a regulation capping under-16s to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with any further access needing parental permission.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise enacted laws mandating parental consent for teenagers to create social media accounts.

Even with cross-party agreement and calls from certain individuals to copy Australia's lead, a nationwide ban is currently seen as improbable.

Worldwide Outlook

Outside of the West, other countries are likewise considering moves.

• Malaysia plans to ban social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• Brazil has increased the access age for one major platform to 16.

However, international agencies strike a more cautious position. A major UN agency has warned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "could have unintended consequences". The agency points out that social networks can be a "critical link" for marginalized young people and that government action should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to invest in child safeguards.

Even as this worldwide debate unfolds, the policies of Australia and others demonstrate that states around the world are no longer prepared to wait for platforms to self-regulate.