🔗 Share this article Might Additional Countries Pursue Australia's Example in Prohibiting Social Media for Under-16s? Australia's controversial policy to ban social networking access for young people below 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Officials, safety advocates, and parents are monitoring with great interest to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad. Across Europe Movement In Europe, a growing number of states are moving toward similar restrictions. The Danish government plans a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister arguing that mobile devices and apps are "robbing our youngsters' childhood". A law could be passed soon. Norway is planning to implement a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to shield young people from the "influence of the algorithms". Ireland is developing a digital wallet to authenticate the user details of social media account holders. Officials have stated that an similar ban could be "a potential measures in reserve". In Spain, the leader has urged parliament to enact a proposal lifting the legal age for joining social media to 16. In The French government, the head of state has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a comparable action, including an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents. The authorities in the Netherlands has urged families to restrict their kids from social media before 15. At the EU level, the EU parliament has adopted a symbolic statement supporting a ban for minors unless a parent decides otherwise is given. Even though it cautions of the "compulsive" quality of these apps, the move does not enact enforceable legislation. "An effective age restriction is a solid starting point," stated a leading parliamentarian driving the measure. The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Eye In the UK, the leadership has kept open a possible ban, emphasizing that "no option is discarded" but insisting any action must be "grounded in robust data". Last year, interest grew behind a bill to impose restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end weakened. Instead, the government vowed to investigate the issue. Charities have voiced concerns. One foundation founded by the loved ones of a teenager who took her own life after encountering disturbing social media material argues that a blanket age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of harm when teens reach the legal age. "The Australian ban is a response to the refusal of the tech sector to build platforms and apps that are appropriate and suitable for minors," stated a leading online safety campaigner. America: A Decentralized Landscape Across America, action is primarily unfolding at the regional level due to country-wide stalemate. The state of Utah requires parental consent for minors to use social media and limits late-night use. Florida has passed a law banning those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it faces constitutional disputes. Virginia has enacted a regulation limiting under-16s to one hour of social media use per day, with additional time requiring adult consent. Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also introduced laws demanding parental consent for minors to create social media accounts. Despite bipartisan support and calls from various figures to copy Australia's lead, a federal ban is currently seen as improbable. Global Outlook Beyond Europe and the US, other countries are also exploring options. Malaysia plans to restrict social media for under-16s beginning next year. Brazil has lifted the access age for one major platform to 16. But, international bodies adopt a more cautious stance. The UN children's agency has advised that social media bans pose dangers and "could prove counterproductive". The agency points out that online platforms can be a "critical link" for marginalized children and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to prioritize safety. Even as this global debate evolves, the actions of the Australian government and its followers indicate that states internationally are increasingly willing to delay for tech companies to make changes on their own.