🔗 Share this article Will Additional States Follow Australia's in Restricting Social Platforms for Youth Under Sixteen? The nation's controversial action to ban social networking access for young people below 16 is sparking debate worldwide. Officials, child protection groups, and guardians are monitoring with great interest to see if this strategy will set a precedent for other nations. The European Movement Across Europe, a increasing group of nations are moving toward similar bans. Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister declaring that smartphones and apps are "robbing our kids' innocence". Legislation could be formalized soon. Norway is preparing to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to protect young people from the "influence of the recommendation systems". Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to verify the age and identity of social media account holders. Officials have stated that an similar ban remains "a potential tools under consideration". In Spain, the leader has asked lawmakers to enact a bill raising the minimum age for using social media to 16. In France, the leader has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has endorsed a similar move, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds. The administration in the Netherlands has advised guardians to prevent their youngsters from social media until 15. Across the European Union, the European parliament has adopted a non-binding motion demanding a ban for under-16s except if guardian approval is provided. While it highlights of the "habit-forming" design of these platforms, the step does not enact mandatory rules. "An effective age barrier is a solid starting point," said the European lawmaker supporting the measure. Britain: A Watchful Eye Across Britain, the leadership has remained open to a possible ban, emphasizing that "no option is off the table" but maintaining any decision must be "based on conclusive research". Last year, momentum gathered behind a legislative effort to enact limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end weakened. Nonetheless, the government committed to investigate the matter. Advocacy groups have raised apprehensions. An organization established by the loved ones of a girl who was lost after being exposed to dangerous online content suggests that a strict age ban could fail to improve online safety and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of risk when users reach the legal age. "This ban is a answer to the refusal of the tech sector to design platforms and apps that are appropriate and fit for children," commented a leading peer. America: A Fragmented Landscape In the United States, action is primarily unfolding at the local level against a backdrop of federal stalemate. Utah mandates guardian permission for minors to use social media and restricts overnight use. Florida has enacted a law prohibiting those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges. The state of Virginia has enacted a regulation capping under-16s to one hour of social media access per day, with additional time needing a guardian's okay. Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed laws mandating parental consent for under-16s to create social media accounts. Despite bipartisan support and proposals from various figures to follow this path, a federal ban is currently seen as a distant prospect. International Perspectives Outside of the West, further countries are likewise exploring options. The Malaysian government intends to restrict social media for those under sixteen effective next year. Brazil has increased the access age for the platform Instagram to 16. But, international bodies strike a more cautious position. A major UN agency has warned that social media bans pose dangers and "may even prove counterproductive". The body notes that the internet can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable youth and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to prioritize safety. Even as this global discussion continues, the policies of the Australian government and others show that policymakers globally are no longer prepared to delay for the industry to make changes on their own.