🔗 Share this article Might Different States Pursue Australia's Example in Prohibiting Social Media for Youth Under Sixteen? Australia's bold policy to restrict social platforms access for young people below 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Officials, safety advocates, and families are monitoring closely to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad. Across Europe Momentum Across Europe, a rising group of states are moving toward parallel bans. Denmark has announced a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister stating that phones and platforms are "robbing our kids' innocence". A law could be enacted in the coming year. Norway is planning to enforce a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard children from the "influence of the AI". Ireland is working on a digital wallet to verify the identity and age of social media participants. Officials have stated that an Australian-model ban could be "one of the tools in reserve". In Spain, the leader has asked lawmakers to approve a law raising the minimum age for using social media to 16. In France, the president has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has endorsed a comparable move, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents. The authorities in The Netherlands has recommended parents to prevent their children from social media before 15. Across the European Union, the EU parliament has approved a advisory motion demanding a ban for minors except if guardian approval is given. Although it warns of the "habit-forming" nature of these apps, the resolution does not establish mandatory rules. "A clear age barrier is a good starting point," commented one parliamentarian behind the measure. Britain: An Evidence-Based Stance Across Britain, the leadership has not ruled out a potential ban, emphasizing that "nothing is discarded" but insisting any decision must be "supported by robust research". Last year, interest grew behind a proposal to enact limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end weakened. Nonetheless, the government vowed to conduct more studies the issue. Advocacy groups have raised warnings. One foundation set up by the loved ones of a teenager who was lost after viewing dangerous social media material suggests that a blanket age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could lead to a "cliff edge" of risk when users become eligible. "The Australian ban is a reaction to the inability of the tech sector to create products and services that are secure and fit for young users," stated a leading peer. America: A Fragmented Landscape Across America, legislation is mostly occurring at the regional level due to national gridlock. The state of Utah requires guardian permission for minors to use social media and restricts late-night use. Florida has enacted a law barring those below 14 from joining social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes. The state of Virginia has enacted a regulation capping minors to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with additional access dependent on a guardian's okay. Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise enacted laws mandating parental consent for teenagers to create social media accounts. Despite widespread concern and calls from certain politicians to follow this example, a federal ban is currently seen as unlikely. Global Perspectives Apart from these regions, further countries are also taking action. The Malaysian government intends to restrict social media for under-16s beginning next year. Brazil has raised the access age for Instagram to 16. But, international organizations adopt a more cautious stance. Unicef has advised that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "may even backfire". The organization highlights that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for isolated youth and that government action should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to invest in safety. As this international conversation evolves, the steps of Australia and others demonstrate that governments globally are no longer content to wait for platforms to act voluntarily.