🔗 Share this article Could Other Countries Follow Australia's in Banning Social Media for Teenagers Under 16? Australia's decisive action to ban social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is sparking debate around the globe. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and guardians are observing with great interest to see if this approach will set a precedent for countries abroad. The European Movement Across Europe, a growing number of nations are moving toward parallel restrictions. Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the PM arguing that smartphones and platforms are "robbing our children's childhood". Legislation could be formalized soon. The Norwegian government is preparing to enforce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to shield children from the "power of the recommendation systems". The Irish government is working on a online verification tool to authenticate the identity and age of social media participants. Officials have suggested that an Australia-style ban remains "a potential tools on the table". In The Spanish government, the leader has urged lawmakers to approve a law increasing the legal age for using social media to 16. In France, the president has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has recommended a related move, including an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents. The authorities in the Netherlands has advised families to block their children from social media before 15. At the EU level, the European parliament has passed a advisory resolution calling for a ban for under-16s without guardian approval is given. Even though it highlights of the "compulsive" quality of these apps, the move does not enact enforceable legislation. "A strong age barrier is a good first step," stated one parliamentarian supporting the measure. Britain: A Watchful Approach For the United Kingdom, the leadership has remained open to a potential ban, arguing that "no measure is off the table" but stressing any policy must be "grounded in conclusive data". Previously, interest gathered behind a proposal to impose restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately watered down. Nonetheless, the government vowed to conduct more studies the issue. Charities have expressed concerns. A prominent charity established by the loved ones of a girl who was lost after being exposed to harmful online content suggests that a strict age ban may not make platforms safer and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of harm when young people turn 16. "Australia's ban is a reaction to the failure of the social media companies to design platforms and apps that are safe and fit for minors," said a prominent online safety campaigner. The United States: A Fragmented Landscape In the United States, regulation is largely occurring at the regional government level amid country-wide inaction. The state of Utah demands adult approval for under-18s to use social media and restricts overnight use. Florida has signed a measure prohibiting children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it faces court battles. Virginia has enacted a regulation limiting minors to a single hour of social media access per day, with additional access needing adult consent. Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise enacted laws demanding guardian approval for under-16s to set up social media presences. Even with cross-party agreement and proposals from some individuals to copy this path, a nationwide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect. Global Views Apart from Europe and the US, additional states are similarly taking action. The Malaysian government plans to ban social media for those under sixteen starting from next year. The Brazilian authorities has lifted the required age for the platform Instagram to 16. But, international bodies adopt a more nuanced position. A major UN agency has advised that age-based restrictions carry risks and "could prove counterproductive". The organization highlights that social networks can be a "vital connection" for isolated youth and that government action should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to improve user protection. While this global conversation continues, the policies of this nation and its followers demonstrate that policymakers globally are no longer content to delay for the industry to act voluntarily.