🔗 Share this article Might Additional Countries Emulate Australia's Example in Banning Social Media for Under-16s? The Australian decisive move to ban social media access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples worldwide. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and families are watching closely to see if this strategy will set a precedent for countries abroad. Across Europe Movement In Europe, a growing group of countries are exploring parallel restrictions. Denmark has announced a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader arguing that mobile devices and platforms are "stealing our children's childhood". Legislation could be formalized in the coming year. Norway is set to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to protect young people from the "manipulative force of the algorithms". Ireland is working on a online verification tool to verify the user details of social media participants. The media minister have stated that an similar ban remains "an measures under consideration". In Spain, the president has called on parliament to enact a law raising the legal age for using social media to 16. In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a comparable move, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents. The administration in The Dutch government has recommended families to block their youngsters from social media until 15. For the broader EU, the European parliament has approved a non-binding statement demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 without a parent decides otherwise is given. Even though it warns of the "addictive" design of these apps, the step does not establish binding law. "A strong age barrier is a solid first step," said a leading parliamentarian behind the resolution. Britain: A Watchful Approach Across Britain, the administration has not ruled out a possible ban, emphasizing that "nothing is discarded" but maintaining any action must be "grounded in robust evidence". Earlier, momentum grew behind a proposal to introduce restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end watered down. Nonetheless, the government pledged to conduct more studies the issue. Advocacy groups have raised warnings. An organization founded by the relatives of a young person who took her own life after encountering dangerous platform posts argues that a simple age ban may not improve online safety and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of harm when users become eligible. "The Australian ban is a answer to the inability of the social media companies to build tools that are appropriate and suitable for children," stated a leading child protection advocate. The US: A Fragmented Landscape Across America, legislation is mostly occurring at the local level amid country-wide gridlock. Utah requires adult approval for minors to use social media and controls overnight use. Florida has passed a bill banning those below 14 from accessing social media, though it is subject to legal challenges. The state of Virginia has passed a regulation limiting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with any further time dependent on adult consent. Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed laws mandating parental consent for minors to set up social media profiles. Despite bipartisan support and calls from some individuals to mimic this lead, a federal ban is currently seen as a distant prospect. International Perspectives Apart from Europe and the US, further states are similarly exploring options. Malaysia intends to ban social media for under-16s beginning next year. Brazil has lifted the access age for the platform Instagram to 16. Yet, international organizations adopt a more cautious position. Unicef has warned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "could have unintended consequences". The agency notes that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for marginalized youth and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to prioritize user protection. As this international conversation unfolds, the actions of the Australian government and its followers show that policymakers around the world are increasingly prepared to delay for tech companies to self-regulate.