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The nation's bold action to ban social platforms access for those under 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and guardians are watching intently to see if this strategy will set a precedent for countries abroad.

The European Movement

In Europe, a increasing number of nations are considering similar restrictions.

• Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister declaring that smartphones and platforms are "taking away our children's innocence". The policy may be formalized soon.
• The Norwegian government is planning to implement a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard children from the "influence of the AI".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to confirm the user details of social media participants. Officials have suggested that an Australia-style ban is "an tools on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the president has urged lawmakers to enact a law lifting the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a related move, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The government in The Netherlands has urged parents to block their children from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the EU parliament has approved a advisory statement supporting a ban for minors except if guardian approval is granted. Although it highlights of the "addictive" nature of these platforms, the resolution does not establish enforceable legislation.

"A clear age barrier is a useful first step," said the parliamentarian behind the measure.

The UK: A Watchful Eye

In the UK, the leadership has kept open a potential ban, arguing that "nothing is off the table" but insisting any action must be "based on conclusive evidence".

Previously, momentum grew behind a proposal to introduce limits on social media use by minors, but it was in the end weakened. Instead, the government committed to conduct more studies the topic.

Charities have voiced concerns. One foundation set up by the family of a young person who took her own life after encountering harmful platform posts suggests that a blanket age ban could fail to protect children and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of risk when young people reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the inability of the tech sector to design platforms and apps that are safe and fit for minors," commented a prominent peer.

America: A Fragmented Landscape

Across America, action is mostly occurring at the state level amid national gridlock.

• Utah requires parental consent for under-18s to use social media and controls late-night use.
• The state of Florida has passed a measure banning under-14s from joining social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting teenagers to a single hour of social media use per day, with additional access needing a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly passed laws demanding parental consent for under-16s to open social media accounts.

Despite cross-party agreement and suggestions from certain figures to mimic Australia's example, a US-wide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

Global Outlook

Beyond the West, further countries are similarly exploring options.

• Malaysia aims to restrict social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
• Brazil has lifted the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, international organizations strike a more measured position. A major UN agency has advised that age-based restrictions carry risks and "might backfire". The body highlights that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable youth and that bans should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to invest in user protection.

Even as this international discussion continues, the policies of the Australian government and several other countries demonstrate that policymakers globally are increasingly willing to delay for tech companies to make changes on their own.