🔗 Share this article Will Different Countries Follow Australia's in Restricting Social Platforms for Youth Under Sixteen? Australia's controversial policy to prohibit social platforms access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Officials, child protection groups, and guardians are watching with great interest to see if this approach will become a template for the rest of the world. The European Trend Across Europe, a increasing chorus of nations are considering parallel measures. Denmark has stated a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister arguing that smartphones and apps are "stealing our youngsters' innocence". A law is expected to be passed in the coming year. Norway is set to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to shield the young from the "influence of the recommendation systems". The Irish government is working on a digital wallet to authenticate the user details of social media users. Authorities have indicated that an Australian-model ban is "an tools on the table". In The Spanish government, the leader has urged parliament to approve a law increasing the access age for accessing social media to 16. In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a related action, including an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers. The authorities in The Dutch government has recommended families to prevent their youngsters from social media before 15. For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has approved a advisory motion calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 unless a parent decides otherwise is provided. While it cautions of the "compulsive" design of these apps, the resolution does not create enforceable legislation. "A strong age barrier is a solid foundation," said a leading MEP behind the initiative. The UK: A Watchful Approach In the UK, the leadership has kept open a potential ban, arguing that "no measure is being dismissed" but stressing any policy must be "grounded in strong evidence". Previously, interest built behind a proposal to introduce limits on social media use by minors, but it was eventually modified. Instead, the administration vowed to further research the topic. Advocacy groups have voiced apprehensions. A prominent charity set up by the loved ones of a teenager who died after encountering dangerous platform posts argues that a blanket age ban might not protect children and could create a "dangerous transition" of risk when young people reach the legal age. "Australia's ban is a response to the inability of the tech sector to create platforms and apps that are safe and fit for minors," said a influential child protection advocate. The US: A Fragmented Picture In the United States, legislation is mostly occurring at the state government level amid country-wide inaction. Utah demands parental consent for minors to use social media and limits late-night use. Florida has passed a measure banning those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it faces court battles. The state of Virginia has passed a rule limiting under-16s to a single hour of social media use per day, with extra time dependent on adult consent. The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly enacted measures mandating guardian approval for under-16s to set up social media accounts. Despite bipartisan support and proposals from some politicians to follow this example, a US-wide ban is right now seen as unlikely. International Perspectives Apart from these regions, further states are similarly exploring options. Malaysia plans to ban social media for teenagers beginning next year. The Brazilian authorities has lifted the required age for the platform Instagram to 16. However, world bodies strike a more cautious stance. The UN children's agency has cautioned that social media bans have downsides and "may even prove counterproductive". The organization highlights that social networks can be a "vital connection" for isolated youth and that bans should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to invest in child safeguards. Even as this international discussion unfolds, the actions of the Australian government and its followers demonstrate that governments around the world are increasingly willing to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.