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Australia's controversial policy to prohibit social networking access for young people below 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Lawmakers, campaigners, and families are watching closely to see if this strategy will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

European Trend

In Europe, a rising chorus of nations are moving toward parallel bans.

• Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM declaring that mobile devices and platforms are "robbing our youngsters' youth". A law may be enacted soon.
• Norway is set to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to shield the young from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is working on a digital wallet to verify the age and identity of social media account holders. Authorities have stated that an similar ban is "a potential tools on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged lawmakers to pass a proposal increasing the access age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has suggested a comparable move, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The administration in The Dutch government has recommended guardians to prevent their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has approved a non-binding motion calling for a ban for minors except if guardian approval is provided. Although it cautions of the "addictive" design of these apps, the step does not create binding law.

"A strong age barrier is a useful starting point," said one parliamentarian behind the resolution.

The UK: A Watchful Approach

Across Britain, the government has kept open a possible ban, stating that "nothing is being dismissed" but stressing any decision must be "grounded in strong data".

Last year, momentum gathered behind a proposal to enact restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end watered down. Nonetheless, the government vowed to conduct more studies the topic.

Charities have voiced apprehensions. A prominent charity established by the family of a young person who was lost after viewing dangerous social media material suggests that a blanket age ban could fail to improve online safety and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of risk when teens turn 16.

"This ban is a reaction to the failure of the tech sector to design platforms and apps that are secure and age appropriate for young users," stated a prominent online safety campaigner.

America: A Fragmented Landscape

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

• Utah demands parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has passed a measure banning those below 14 from joining social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a regulation capping teenagers to a single hour of social media access per day, with extra use requiring a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise enacted laws requiring adult authorization for under-16s to set up social media profiles.

Despite cross-party agreement and suggestions from certain individuals to copy Australia's lead, a US-wide ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Views

Apart from Europe and the US, other countries are also exploring options.

• Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has increased the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

Yet, international organizations adopt a more cautious tone. Unicef has cautioned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even prove counterproductive". The agency points out that the internet can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable children and that bans should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to invest in child safeguards.

As this worldwide debate unfolds, the actions of Australia and others indicate that states around the world are less and less content to wait for the industry to self-regulate.