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The Australian controversial policy to ban social networking access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples around the globe. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and guardians are watching with great interest to see if this approach will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

European Movement

Throughout Europe, a increasing chorus of countries are exploring comparable restrictions.

• The Danish government has stated a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister arguing that smartphones and platforms are "robbing our kids' childhood". The policy is expected to be enacted soon.
• Norway is planning to enforce a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to shield young people from the "power of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is working on a online verification tool to authenticate the identity and age of social media participants. The media minister have indicated that an Australian-model ban is "one of the tools under consideration".
• In Spain, the leader has asked the legislature to enact a law raising the access age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has endorsed a comparable step, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The administration in The Dutch government has recommended families to block their children from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the EU parliament has passed a non-binding motion calling for a ban for minors unless parental consent is given. While it warns of the "compulsive" design of these services, the move does not enact binding law.

"A strong age barrier is a solid foundation," said a leading European lawmaker supporting the resolution.

The UK: A Cautious Stance

In the UK, the leadership has kept open a possible ban, emphasizing that "nothing is being dismissed" but stressing any decision must be "grounded in strong evidence".

Last year, momentum built behind a proposal to impose limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end modified. Instead, the government pledged to investigate the issue.

Charities have expressed warnings. An organization founded by the loved ones of a teenager who took her own life after encountering harmful online content contends that a simple age ban could fail to improve online safety and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of harm when users turn 16.

"This ban is a answer to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to design platforms and apps that are safe and age appropriate for children," commented a leading peer.

The US: A State-by-State Picture

Stateside, regulation is largely occurring at the local government level against a backdrop of country-wide stalemate.

• Utah requires adult approval for minors to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a measure prohibiting those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting teenagers to one hour of social media time per day, with additional access requiring a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise enacted laws mandating parental consent for minors to set up social media presences.

Despite bipartisan support and proposals from some figures to follow this lead, a nationwide ban is presently seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Perspectives

Outside of Europe and the US, further states are likewise taking action.

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

But, world bodies adopt a more measured stance. Unicef has cautioned that social media bans carry risks and "could have unintended consequences". The organization notes that the internet can be a "critical link" for vulnerable young people and that government action should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to improve user protection.

Even as this worldwide debate evolves, the policies of the Australian government and several other countries demonstrate that governments globally are no longer content to wait for tech companies to self-regulate.