Key Points
- Several governments study Australia’s under-16 social media ban as a potential model
- Europe sees the fastest regulatory traction, with Denmark preparing its own restrictions
- US lawmakers signal support for tougher platform obligations, adding pressure on tech firms
ISLAMABAD: A growing list of governments is assessing whether to follow Australia’s under-16 social media ban, signalling a shift toward sharper age-gating rules for global platforms.
Policy teams across Europe, parts of Asia, and North America see the Australian law as the first credible template for large-scale age exclusion, prompting deeper internal reviews.
Denmark is closest to adopting a similar measure. Its digital ministry has already drafted a proposal to restrict major platforms for users under 15 and strengthen parental verification for mid-teens.
Officials involved in the consultations argue that algorithmic design, exposure to harmful content, and declining school performance justify stricter controls. Draft parliamentary hearings in Copenhagen are scheduled for early next year, positioning Denmark as Europe’s leading pioneer.
Debate inside the wider European Union has accelerated. Brussels regulators say Australia’s approach provides a useful baseline for hard enforcement, especially on age assurance.
Some EU states, including France and Greece, have circulated internal briefing papers examining feasibility, enforcement cost and legal compatibility with existing digital-rights frameworks.
London’s child-safety community is pushing the UK government to revisit its own regulatory pathway, citing what they describe as a rapidly closing window for effective policy intervention.
In Asia, Malaysia’s communications authority has publicly confirmed its intention to move toward an under-16 threshold next year, framing it as a preventative health measure for students.
Regional analysts suggest that South Korea and Singapore are also reviewing youth-safety standards but have not committed to age bans.
In the United States, momentum is building inside Congress through bipartisan support for enhanced platform obligations, including a proposed nationwide algorithm-off mode for minors. Several senators have praised Australia’s stance, arguing that voluntary platform commitments no longer satisfy parental or public expectations. Although a direct age ban faces legal and political hurdles, regulators acknowledge that Australia has led the change in the baseline for discussions in Washington.
Across these regions, governments are converging on a common assessment: the prevailing system of nominal-age checks and platform-driven safety features is no longer considered sufficient.
Australia’s decision has effectively reset the debate, giving policymakers a concrete model to analyse, adapt or challenge. The coming months are likely to determine which jurisdictions become early adopters and how global platforms recalibrate ahead of new compliance demands.
