🔗 Share this article Will Other Countries Pursue Australia's in Restricting Social Media for Under-16s? The Australian decisive policy to ban social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is sparking debate internationally. Lawmakers, campaigners, and parents are watching with great interest to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad. Across Europe Trend Across Europe, a rising group of nations are exploring similar restrictions. The Danish government plans a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader arguing that mobile devices and platforms are "stealing our children's childhood". The policy is expected to be passed in the coming year. Norway is planning to introduce a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to shield children from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems". Ireland is working on a online verification tool to authenticate the user details of social media participants. The media minister have suggested that an Australia-style ban remains "one of the tools in reserve". In Spain, the leader has asked lawmakers to approve a law raising the legal age for using social media to 16. In France, the president has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a related step, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers. The authorities in The Dutch government has advised families to restrict their kids from social media before 15. For the broader EU, the European parliament has approved a non-binding resolution supporting a ban for minors without guardian approval is given. Even though it highlights of the "compulsive" design of these services, the move does not establish binding law. "A clear age restriction is a useful foundation," commented the parliamentarian supporting the resolution. The UK: An Evidence-Based Approach Across Britain, the government has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "no option is off the table" but maintaining any policy must be "based on robust data". Earlier, support gathered behind a bill to enact limits on social media use by minors, but it was in the end modified. Instead, the government pledged to conduct more studies the topic. Campaign organizations have expressed apprehensions. A prominent charity established by the loved ones of a young person who took her own life after viewing dangerous online content suggests that a strict age ban might not improve online safety and could lead to a "cliff edge" of exposure when users become eligible. "Australia's ban is a reaction to the inability of the tech sector to build platforms and apps that are appropriate and suitable for young users," commented a leading child protection advocate. The United States: A State-by-State Approach Stateside, regulation is primarily occurring at the local level due to federal stalemate. Utah mandates parental consent for under-18s to use social media and limits nighttime use. Florida has signed a measure prohibiting children under fourteen from joining social media, though it is entangled in court battles. Virginia has enacted a regulation capping teenagers to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with additional access dependent on parental permission. Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted bills mandating guardian approval for under-16s to open social media accounts. Even with bipartisan support and calls from various politicians to follow this path, a nationwide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect. Global Perspectives Apart from the West, additional countries are also considering moves. Malaysia intends to restrict social media for teenagers effective next year. Brazil has increased the required age for one major platform to 16. Yet, international bodies strike a more cautious stance. A major UN agency has warned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "could backfire". The organization highlights that social networks can be a "critical link" for vulnerable children and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to prioritize child safeguards. Even as this global conversation unfolds, the steps of this nation and its followers show that states internationally are less and less willing to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.