🔗 Share this article Might Additional Countries Emulate Australia's in Restricting Social Platforms for Under-16s? The nation's controversial move to restrict social media access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves worldwide. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and parents are monitoring intently to see if this approach will inspire imitation for other nations. Across Europe Momentum In Europe, a rising chorus of countries are moving toward parallel measures. Denmark plans a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister declaring that smartphones and apps are "robbing our kids' innocence". The policy may be formalized in the coming year. Norway is planning to enforce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to safeguard the young from the "manipulative force of the algorithms". Ireland is developing a online verification tool to authenticate the age and identity of social media account holders. The media minister have indicated that an similar ban is "a potential tools on the table". In Spain, the prime minister has asked the legislature to approve a bill increasing the minimum age for accessing social media to 16. In France, the leader has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a comparable step, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers. The government in The Netherlands has advised guardians to block their youngsters from social media until 15. For the broader EU, the European parliament has adopted a non-binding resolution supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 unless guardian approval is granted. Although it highlights of the "addictive" design of these apps, the step does not create binding law. "An effective age barrier is a solid starting point," said a leading European lawmaker driving the resolution. The United Kingdom: A Cautious Approach Across Britain, the administration has not ruled out a future ban, arguing that "no option is discarded" but stressing any action must be "supported by strong evidence". Previously, interest built behind a legislative effort to introduce controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually weakened. Instead, the administration committed to further research the issue. Charities have voiced warnings. One foundation established by the family of a girl who died after being exposed to disturbing platform posts contends that a blanket age ban could fail to improve online safety and could result in a "dangerous transition" of exposure when teens reach the legal age. "Australia's ban is a answer to the inability of the Silicon Valley to build tools that are appropriate and age appropriate for children," commented a leading online safety campaigner. The United States: A State-by-State Picture In the United States, action is mostly happening at the state level due to country-wide gridlock. Utah mandates guardian permission for minors to use social media and restricts late-night use. Florida has signed a measure prohibiting those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to legal challenges. Virginia has enacted a rule limiting under-16s to a single hour of social media time per day, with any further time requiring adult consent. Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly passed laws requiring parental consent for teenagers to open social media presences. Even with cross-party agreement and proposals from certain individuals to mimic the Australian path, a nationwide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect. Global Views Beyond the West, further nations are likewise exploring options. The Malaysian government aims to ban social media for under-16s starting from next year. Brazil has lifted the minimum age for Instagram to 16. Yet, international bodies strike a more nuanced stance. Unicef has advised that social media bans have downsides and "could have unintended consequences". The body highlights that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for isolated youth and that bans should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to invest in child safeguards. As this global debate evolves, the actions of the Australian government and its followers indicate that policymakers around the world are less and less prepared to delay for tech companies to make changes on their own.