Meta's $17 billion U.S. settlement has accelerated a global push to restrict children's social media use, with about 40 countries debating or implementing limits. The wave of regulatory activity across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas stems from concerns that social media platforms harm young people through addictive design features and harmful content. However, early evidence indicates these bans are largely ineffective at keeping children off platforms. In Australia, where a law banned children under 16 from certain services starting in December, over 80 percent of surveyed children reported using age-restricted platforms three months later. Technical workarounds like VPNs and age verification circumvention have proven common.

Critics argue the bans infringe on freedom of expression and raise privacy concerns around age screening. Human rights groups and privacy watchdogs oppose blanket restrictions, advocating instead for platform design changes. Amnesty International's Lisa Dittmer called proposed EU bans a "temporary measure at best," while Indonesia's Usman Hamid warned such bans deprive children of vital communication channels. Despite implementation challenges, initiatives to limit children's social media access continue expanding globally.