đź”— Share this article Will Additional Nations Emulate Australia's Lead in Banning Social Platforms for Teenagers Under 16? Australia's decisive policy to prohibit social networking access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves worldwide. Officials, safety advocates, and families are observing closely to see if this approach will set a precedent for the rest of the world. European Trend In Europe, a growing chorus of states are considering similar restrictions. Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader declaring that phones and networks are "taking away our kids' youth". Legislation is expected to be passed next year. The Norwegian government is preparing to introduce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to protect young people from the "power of the recommendation systems". The Irish government is working on a digital wallet to verify the identity and age of social media account holders. Authorities have suggested that an Australia-style ban could be "an tools on the table". In The Spanish government, the president has called on parliament to approve a law raising the minimum age for using social media to 16. In The French government, the head of state has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has suggested a similar step, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds. The authorities in The Netherlands has advised families to block their children from social media until 15. For the broader EU, the EU parliament has adopted a non-binding resolution demanding a ban for minors without a parent decides otherwise is given. While it warns of the "compulsive" quality of these platforms, the move does not enact enforceable legislation. "A strong age restriction is a useful starting point," stated one parliamentarian driving the resolution. The UK: An Evidence-Based Stance Across Britain, the administration has not ruled out a potential ban, arguing that "no option is discarded" but maintaining any policy must be "based on robust data". Earlier, interest grew behind a proposal to enact limits on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately modified. Instead, the government pledged to investigate the topic. Campaign organizations have raised warnings. One foundation founded by the relatives of a teenager who died after viewing disturbing social media material suggests that a strict age ban may not make platforms safer and could result in a "dangerous transition" of exposure when teens turn 16. "Australia's ban is a response to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to create tools that are appropriate and fit for children," commented a leading child protection advocate. America: A Fragmented Approach Across America, regulation is largely unfolding at the local level due to country-wide inaction. The state of Utah mandates parental consent for minors to use social media and limits nighttime use. Florida has enacted a bill prohibiting under-14s from accessing social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes. The state of Virginia has approved a regulation limiting minors to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with additional use requiring a guardian's okay. The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced bills requiring parental consent for under-16s to open social media accounts. Even with cross-party agreement and calls from certain figures to copy the Australian path, a nationwide ban is currently seen as improbable. International Views Apart from Europe and the US, other countries are similarly taking action. Malaysia aims to restrict social media for teenagers starting from next year. Brazil has increased the access age for the platform Instagram to 16. But, global organizations take a more measured tone. The UN children's agency has advised that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "might prove counterproductive". The agency notes that social networks can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable youth and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to improve safety. Even as this global discussion evolves, the steps of this nation and its followers indicate that policymakers globally are less and less willing to delay for tech companies to make changes on their own.