🔗 Share this article Will Additional Nations Emulate Australia's Lead in Restricting Social Platforms for Teenagers Under 16? Australia's bold policy to prohibit social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples internationally. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and guardians are watching closely to see if this approach will become a template for the rest of the world. European Trend In Europe, a increasing number of nations are considering similar bans. Denmark has announced a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the PM stating that smartphones and apps are "taking away our children's youth". The policy may be passed soon. Norway is planning to enforce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to protect young people from the "manipulative force of the AI". Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the user details of social media account holders. Authorities have stated that an Australia-style ban could be "a potential measures under consideration". In Spain, the president has urged the legislature to approve a proposal increasing the access age for joining social media to 16. In The French government, the president has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has recommended a comparable move, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers. The administration in the Netherlands has recommended families to prevent their youngsters from social media before 15. At the EU level, the European parliament has passed a advisory statement supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 except if a parent decides otherwise is granted. Although it cautions of the "compulsive" nature of these services, the move does not create binding law. "A clear age limit is a useful foundation," commented the MEP supporting the initiative. The UK: An Evidence-Based Approach In the UK, the government has remained open to a future ban, stating that "nothing is discarded" but insisting any action must be "supported by strong research". Last year, support grew behind a proposal to impose restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end weakened. Nonetheless, the administration committed to further research the issue. Advocacy groups have raised concerns. An organization established by the family of a girl who died after viewing disturbing platform posts contends that a simple age ban could fail to improve online safety and could result in a "dangerous transition" of risk when teens turn 16. "This ban is a answer to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to design products and services that are secure and age appropriate for young users," said a prominent online safety campaigner. America: A Decentralized Landscape In the United States, regulation is mostly occurring at the local level due to federal stalemate. Utah requires adult approval for under-18s to use social media and limits late-night use. The state of Florida has enacted a measure banning those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges. The state of Virginia has approved a rule restricting minors to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with extra access dependent on a guardian's okay. The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed measures mandating parental consent for under-16s to set up social media profiles. Despite cross-party agreement and calls from certain individuals to mimic Australia's example, a US-wide ban is presently seen as improbable. Global Views Beyond Europe and the US, further countries are also considering moves. Malaysia aims to ban social media for those under sixteen effective next year. Brazil has raised the minimum age for Instagram to 16. But, global bodies strike a more cautious tone. A major UN agency has advised that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "could prove counterproductive". The body highlights that online platforms can be a "critical link" for marginalized children and that bans should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to invest in user protection. As this global discussion unfolds, the actions of the Australian government and several other countries demonstrate that governments globally are no longer willing to wait for the industry to act voluntarily.