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The Australian controversial action to restrict social networking access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves worldwide. Politicians, campaigners, and families are watching with great interest to see if this approach will set a precedent for countries abroad.

The European Momentum

Across Europe, a growing group of nations are moving toward similar restrictions.

• Denmark has announced a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the PM stating that smartphones and platforms are "taking away our kids' childhood". A law may be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is planning to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to protect young people from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is developing a digital wallet to confirm the user details of social media participants. The media minister have suggested that an Australian-model ban could be "an measures in reserve".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked parliament to approve a law increasing the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a similar step, including an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The government in the Netherlands has recommended guardians to prevent their kids from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has adopted a non-binding resolution calling for a ban for minors except if parental consent is granted. Although it highlights of the "compulsive" nature of these platforms, the move does not enact binding law.

"A clear age restriction is a solid first step," said one MEP driving the initiative.

Britain: A Cautious Eye

For the United Kingdom, the government has not ruled out a possible ban, stating that "nothing is off the table" but stressing any action must be "grounded in robust evidence".

Last year, interest gathered behind a legislative effort to introduce restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately weakened. Instead, the administration pledged to further research the topic.

Advocacy groups have voiced apprehensions. A prominent charity set up by the loved ones of a young person who was lost after viewing dangerous online content argues that a blanket age ban could fail to protect children and could create a "sudden drop-off" of risk when teens turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to design tools that are secure and fit for minors," said a prominent online safety campaigner.

America: A Decentralized Landscape

Stateside, legislation is primarily occurring at the state level against a backdrop of federal gridlock.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and controls overnight use.
• Florida has signed a law prohibiting under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a rule restricting minors to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with additional time needing a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed bills demanding guardian approval for teenagers to create social media presences.

Even with bipartisan support and suggestions from certain figures to mimic this path, a nationwide ban is presently seen as improbable.

Worldwide Views

Outside of Europe and the US, additional countries are likewise taking action.

• Malaysia aims to restrict social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has increased the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, international bodies adopt a more nuanced tone. Unicef has cautioned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "may even have unintended consequences". The body points out that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable children and that government action should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to prioritize user protection.

As this worldwide conversation unfolds, the actions of the Australian government and its followers show that governments globally are less and less content to wait for tech companies to self-regulate.