- Australia's social media ban for under-16s, introduced in December 2025, has inspired global discussions but faces practical issues such as weak age verification and workarounds by teenagers.
- By early 2026, at least 13 EU countries plus the UK, Norway, and Switzerland announced similar bans, with some leaders criticizing social media platforms as 'failed states'.
- Experts argue that current regulations like the EU's Digital Services Act are ineffective, and social media companies have failed to enforce age restrictions or curb addictive features.
- European Commission findings label platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as addictive by design, though companies dispute this.
- Efforts for age verification tools face delays, but the urgency for legislation is driven by mounting evidence of online harm and successful legal actions.