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The Australian controversial policy to prohibit social networking access for those under 16 is creating waves worldwide. Politicians, child protection groups, and guardians are watching with great interest to see if this tactic will set a precedent for countries abroad.

The European Momentum

In Europe, a growing number of states are considering parallel bans.

• The Danish government has stated a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister arguing that smartphones and apps are "taking away our children's innocence". The policy is expected to be enacted in the coming year.
• Norway is planning to introduce a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard young people from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is introducing a digital wallet to confirm the user details of social media users. Authorities have stated that an Australian-model ban could be "a potential options in reserve".
• In Spain, the leader has urged the legislature to pass a bill raising the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a comparable step, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The administration in The Netherlands has urged parents to prevent their youngsters from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has approved a advisory motion calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 without parental consent is granted. Although it highlights of the "habit-forming" quality of these apps, the move does not enact binding law.

"A clear age restriction is a good starting point," stated the European lawmaker driving the resolution.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Approach

In the UK, the government has kept open a potential ban, stating that "nothing is being dismissed" but insisting any policy must be "supported by robust evidence".

Earlier, support grew behind a legislative effort to impose controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end modified. Nonetheless, the government pledged to conduct more studies the issue.

Campaign organizations have voiced concerns. An organization set up by the loved ones of a girl who was lost after viewing dangerous online content suggests that a strict age ban may not protect children and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of harm when users turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the failure of the Silicon Valley to build platforms and apps that are safe and fit for young users," commented a influential online safety campaigner.

The United States: A State-by-State Picture

In the United States, legislation is primarily occurring at the local level against a backdrop of national gridlock.

• Utah demands adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and controls overnight use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a measure barring under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it faces court battles.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a law restricting minors to a single hour of social media use per day, with additional use dependent on parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted laws mandating parental consent for under-16s to create social media profiles.

Despite bipartisan support and proposals from some individuals to mimic this path, a US-wide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Global Perspectives

Apart from these regions, further nations are similarly taking action.

• The Malaysian government plans to ban social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, international bodies take a more cautious position. The UN children's agency has advised that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even backfire". The body points out that the internet can be a "critical link" for vulnerable young people and that government action should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to improve child safeguards.

While this worldwide conversation evolves, the policies of Australia and several other countries demonstrate that states around the world are no longer prepared to stand by for the industry to act voluntarily.