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The Australian controversial policy to ban social media access for those under 16 is sparking debate around the globe. Politicians, campaigners, and guardians are watching closely to see if this tactic will become a template for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Movement

Across Europe, a rising group of nations are considering similar bans.

• Denmark plans a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the PM arguing that phones and apps are "robbing our children's innocence". Legislation is expected to be passed soon.
• Norway is planning to introduce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to safeguard children from the "influence of the algorithms".
• Ireland is working on a online verification tool to confirm the user details of social media participants. The media minister have suggested that an Australian-model ban is "one of the tools under consideration".
• In Spain, the president has urged lawmakers to approve a bill increasing the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has suggested a comparable move, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has recommended families to restrict their children from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has approved a advisory motion demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 except if guardian approval is given. While it warns of the "compulsive" nature of these platforms, the move does not create binding law.

"An effective age barrier is a useful first step," stated a leading parliamentarian driving the resolution.

The UK: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has remained open to a potential ban, arguing that "no measure is off the table" but maintaining any decision must be "supported by robust evidence".

Earlier, momentum grew behind a legislative effort to impose limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end weakened. Nonetheless, the government committed to further research the matter.

Advocacy groups have expressed apprehensions. An organization set up by the loved ones of a young person who was lost after encountering disturbing platform posts suggests that a simple age ban might not make platforms safer and could create a "dangerous transition" of risk when users turn 16.

"This ban is a response to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to build products and services that are appropriate and fit for children," said a leading online safety campaigner.

America: A Decentralized Approach

Stateside, action is primarily unfolding at the local level against a backdrop of federal inaction.

• Utah demands guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a bill banning children under fourteen from joining social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a rule limiting minors to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with extra use dependent on a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly introduced laws requiring adult authorization for under-16s to create social media presences.

Despite cross-party agreement and suggestions from some politicians to mimic this lead, a nationwide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

International Views

Beyond the West, additional states are similarly taking action.

• The Malaysian government intends to ban social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, international agencies take a more measured tone. Unicef has warned that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "could have unintended consequences". The agency points out that online platforms can be a "critical link" for isolated children and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to invest in child safeguards.

While this global conversation continues, the policies of Australia and others demonstrate that states globally are no longer content to wait for the industry to make changes on their own.