🔗 Share this article Might Other States Pursue Australia's in Banning Social Platforms for Under-16s? Australia's bold policy to restrict social media access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples worldwide. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and guardians are observing closely to see if this tactic will set a precedent for other nations. Across Europe Trend Throughout Europe, a increasing group of states are considering similar bans. Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister stating that smartphones and apps are "robbing our kids' innocence". A law is expected to be passed next year. Norway is set to enforce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to shield young people from the "manipulative force of the AI". The Irish government is working on a digital ID system to verify the user details of social media users. Officials have indicated that an similar ban is "one of the options under consideration". In Spain, the leader has asked lawmakers to pass a bill lifting 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 government panel has endorsed a related move, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds. The authorities in the Netherlands has recommended parents to restrict their children from social media before 15. At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has passed a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for under-16s except if a parent decides otherwise is granted. While it warns of the "compulsive" nature of these apps, the step does not enact mandatory rules. "A clear age barrier is a good first step," commented a leading European lawmaker supporting the measure. Britain: A Cautious Eye In the UK, the government has kept open a possible ban, arguing that "no measure is discarded" but stressing any policy must be "grounded in conclusive data". Previously, interest gathered behind a proposal to enact limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually watered down. Nonetheless, the government vowed to investigate the issue. Charities have expressed concerns. An organization established by the relatives of a teenager who died after being exposed to dangerous online content argues that a blanket age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could create a "dangerous transition" of exposure when teens become eligible. "The Australian ban is a response to the failure of the social media companies to design platforms and apps that are safe and fit for minors," stated a leading peer. The United States: A State-by-State Landscape Stateside, action is largely happening at the regional government level against a backdrop of federal inaction. The state of Utah mandates adult approval for under-18s to use social media and limits late-night use. The state of Florida has signed a law banning those below 14 from joining social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges. The state of Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting under-16s to a single hour of social media use per day, with extra time dependent on a guardian's okay. Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also introduced measures mandating parental consent for under-16s to create social media accounts. Despite cross-party agreement and suggestions from certain politicians to follow the Australian path, a nationwide ban is presently seen as a distant prospect. Global Views Apart from the West, other nations are also exploring options. Malaysia aims to restrict social media for teenagers effective next year. The Brazilian authorities has increased the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16. Yet, global agencies take a more measured stance. The UN children's agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even backfire". The agency points out that the internet can be a "lifeline" for marginalized young people and that bans should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to improve user protection. As this international debate unfolds, the actions of the Australian government and others indicate that states internationally are no longer willing to delay for the industry to make changes on their own.