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The nation's controversial move to restrict social platforms access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Politicians, child protection groups, and guardians are watching with great interest to see if this strategy will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

European Momentum

Throughout 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 "taking away our children's innocence". Legislation could be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is planning to implement a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to protect young people from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is working on a online verification tool to verify the identity and age of social media users. Authorities have stated that an Australia-style ban is "an tools in reserve".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked parliament to pass a proposal lifting the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has suggested a comparable step, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The government in the Netherlands has urged families to restrict their children from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has adopted a advisory statement calling for a ban for minors unless guardian approval is granted. While it cautions of the "compulsive" quality of these platforms, the step does not enact enforceable legislation.

"An effective age limit is a useful starting point," said the European lawmaker driving the initiative.

Britain: A Watchful Stance

For the United Kingdom, the government has not ruled out a possible ban, stating that "no option is off the table" but maintaining any policy must be "based on robust data".

Previously, momentum grew behind a bill to enact limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually modified. Nonetheless, the government committed to investigate the issue.

Advocacy groups have raised apprehensions. An organization founded by the relatives of a teenager who was lost after encountering harmful social media material contends that a strict age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could create a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when teens become eligible.

"This ban is a response to the failure of the social media companies to build tools that are safe and fit for children," said a influential peer.

The United States: A State-by-State Approach

Across America, action is primarily happening at the state government level due to national stalemate.

• The state of Utah demands parental consent for under-18s to use social media and limits late-night use.
• Florida has enacted a bill barring children under fourteen from joining social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a law capping minors to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with any further use requiring parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed measures mandating adult authorization for teenagers to set up social media profiles.

Even with bipartisan support and suggestions from various figures to mimic this example, a US-wide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

International Views

Beyond the West, other nations are also taking action.

• The Malaysian government plans to restrict social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has lifted the required age for one major platform to 16.

Yet, international organizations take a more nuanced tone. A major UN agency has warned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even have unintended consequences". The organization notes that the internet can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable young people and that bans should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to prioritize safety.

As this international discussion unfolds, the actions of the Australian government and others demonstrate that states globally are less and less prepared to wait for the industry to make changes on their own.