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Australia's controversial move to prohibit social media access for young people below 16 is sparking debate internationally. Lawmakers, campaigners, and parents are monitoring with great interest to see if this approach will become a template for the rest of the world.

The European Movement

Throughout Europe, a rising number of states are exploring comparable measures.

• The Danish government has announced a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister stating that phones and platforms are "stealing our kids' childhood". The policy may be passed next year.
• Norway is planning to enforce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to shield the young from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is developing a digital ID system to verify the age and identity of social media users. Authorities have indicated that an Australian-model ban remains "one of the options in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has called on lawmakers to pass a proposal raising the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a comparable action, including an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The administration in The Netherlands has advised families to restrict their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.

Across the European Union, the EU parliament has approved a non-binding motion calling for a ban for under-16s except if guardian approval is given. Although it highlights of the "compulsive" quality of these services, the step does not establish enforceable legislation.

"An effective age restriction is a useful foundation," stated the MEP driving the initiative.

Britain: A Cautious Eye

In the UK, the government has remained open to a future ban, stating that "nothing is discarded" but insisting any policy must be "based on conclusive data".

Last year, momentum grew behind a legislative effort to introduce restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was eventually weakened. However, the administration vowed to further research the matter.

Advocacy groups have raised concerns. A prominent charity established by the loved ones of a girl who took her own life after viewing harmful social media material suggests that a strict age ban might not make platforms safer and could result in a "dangerous transition" of exposure when users turn 16.

"This ban is a answer to the inability of the Silicon Valley to create products and services that are safe and fit for minors," said a leading online safety campaigner.

The US: A State-by-State Approach

In the United States, legislation is primarily unfolding at the local government level against a backdrop of country-wide stalemate.

• Utah mandates adult approval for under-18s to use social media and limits overnight use.
• The state of Florida has signed a measure barring children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it faces court battles.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a law restricting minors to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with additional use requiring a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly enacted bills mandating parental consent for minors to set up social media presences.

Even with widespread concern and calls from various figures to copy Australia's lead, a US-wide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

International Views

Outside of the West, additional countries are similarly taking action.

• The Malaysian government intends to prohibit social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• Brazil has lifted the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, world agencies adopt a more cautious position. Unicef has advised that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "might prove counterproductive". The body highlights that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable youth and that bans should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to prioritize safety.

As this international conversation unfolds, the actions of this nation and several other countries demonstrate that states globally are less and less willing to stand by for platforms to act voluntarily.