🔗 Share this article Will Other Countries Emulate Australia's Example in Prohibiting Social Platforms for Teenagers Under 16? The nation's bold action to ban social networking access for those under 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Officials, campaigners, and parents are monitoring closely to see if this tactic will become a template for other nations. European Momentum Throughout Europe, a rising chorus of states are exploring parallel restrictions. Denmark plans a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM stating that phones and apps are "robbing our kids' childhood". The policy could be enacted in the coming year. Norway is planning to implement a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard the young from the "manipulative force of the AI". Ireland is introducing a digital ID system to verify the identity and age of social media account holders. Officials have suggested that an Australian-model ban remains "one of the options in reserve". In The Spanish government, the leader has called on lawmakers to enact a bill raising the access age for using social media to 16. In France, the leader has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a comparable action, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents. The authorities in the Netherlands has recommended families to block their youngsters from social media until 15. Across the European Union, the EU parliament has adopted a symbolic statement calling for a ban for under-16s unless guardian approval is granted. Even though it highlights of the "habit-forming" nature of these apps, the move does not enact mandatory rules. "A clear age barrier is a useful foundation," commented the MEP supporting the measure. The United Kingdom: A Cautious Approach Across Britain, the leadership has not ruled out a possible ban, emphasizing that "nothing is being dismissed" but insisting any action must be "grounded in strong research". Earlier, momentum grew behind a proposal to enact controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately weakened. Instead, the government committed to conduct more studies the issue. Charities have expressed concerns. A prominent charity established by the relatives of a young person who died after encountering disturbing platform posts argues that a strict age ban might not protect children and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when young people reach the legal age. "Australia's ban is a response to the refusal of the social media companies to create products and services that are safe and age appropriate for children," said a prominent peer. America: A State-by-State Landscape In the United States, regulation is largely occurring at the state level against a backdrop of national stalemate. Utah mandates adult approval for minors to use social media and limits overnight use. The state of Florida has passed a bill barring under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges. Virginia has enacted a rule limiting under-16s to one hour of social media access per day, with any further time needing a guardian's okay. The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed laws mandating parental consent for minors to create social media presences. Even with cross-party agreement and proposals from some politicians to follow Australia's example, a nationwide ban is presently seen as unlikely. International Outlook Apart from Europe and the US, other states are also taking action. Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for those under sixteen starting from next year. Brazil has increased the minimum age for one major platform to 16. Yet, global agencies take a more nuanced position. The UN children's agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even have unintended consequences". The organization highlights that social networks can be a "lifeline" for marginalized young people and that government action should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to improve safety. Even as this international discussion unfolds, the steps of the Australian government and several other countries indicate that states around the world are increasingly content to wait for the industry to self-regulate.