🔗 Share this article Might Additional Countries Follow Australia's Example in Prohibiting Social Media for Youth Under Sixteen? The nation's decisive action to prohibit social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves around the globe. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and families are watching closely to see if this approach will inspire imitation for other nations. Across Europe Momentum Across Europe, a rising chorus of countries are moving toward parallel measures. The Danish government has stated a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the leader arguing that smartphones and platforms are "taking away our kids' innocence". The policy may be formalized soon. The Norwegian government is set to implement a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to shield children from the "influence of the recommendation systems". Ireland is developing a online verification tool to confirm the user details of social media participants. Officials have suggested that an Australia-style ban is "one of the options on the table". In The Spanish government, the prime minister has called on lawmakers to enact a bill raising the access age for accessing social media to 16. In The French government, the president has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has recommended a comparable move, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents. The authorities in the Netherlands has recommended parents to prevent their children from social media until 15. Across the European Union, the European parliament has passed a non-binding resolution supporting a ban for minors unless parental consent is provided. Even though it warns of the "habit-forming" quality of these platforms, the resolution does not enact enforceable legislation. "A clear age barrier is a good foundation," stated one European lawmaker driving the initiative. The UK: A Watchful Stance In the UK, the government has remained open to a potential ban, emphasizing that "no measure is being dismissed" but maintaining any action must be "based on strong data". Last year, support gathered behind a legislative effort to introduce limits on social media use by minors, but it was in the end watered down. Instead, the administration committed to further research the topic. Campaign organizations have raised concerns. One foundation set up by the loved ones of a young person who was lost after being exposed to dangerous social media material contends that a strict age ban could fail to improve online safety and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of harm when teens reach the legal age. "The Australian ban is a answer to the failure of the Silicon Valley to create platforms and apps that are safe and fit for minors," commented a prominent child protection advocate. The US: A Fragmented Picture Stateside, regulation is primarily unfolding at the state level against a backdrop of national stalemate. Utah mandates parental consent for minors to use social media and limits nighttime use. The state of Florida has passed a bill banning under-14s from accessing social media, though it faces court battles. Virginia has enacted a rule limiting 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 also introduced measures demanding guardian approval for minors to set up social media accounts. Despite widespread concern and suggestions from some politicians to follow the Australian lead, a US-wide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect. International Outlook Outside of Europe and the US, additional nations are likewise considering moves. Malaysia aims to restrict social media for under-16s beginning next year. Brazil has raised the access age for the platform Instagram to 16. Yet, world organizations strike a more nuanced tone. Unicef 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 children and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to prioritize user protection. While this global discussion continues, the policies of this nation and its followers show that policymakers around the world are less and less prepared to wait for the industry to make changes on their own.