🔗 Share this article Will Different Countries Follow Australia's Lead in Restricting Social Media for Under-16s? The Australian bold action to ban social platforms access for young people below 16 is sparking debate internationally. Officials, campaigners, and families are watching with great interest to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for other nations. Across Europe Momentum Across Europe, a growing group of nations are exploring comparable measures. The Danish government has announced a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM arguing that mobile devices and networks are "robbing our kids' youth". A law is expected to be passed next year. The Norwegian government is set to implement a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to shield young people from the "influence of the recommendation systems". The Irish government is introducing a digital wallet to authenticate the identity and age of social media participants. The media minister have stated that an Australia-style ban is "a potential tools on the table". In Spain, the prime minister has called on parliament to pass a proposal increasing the legal age for joining social media to 16. In France, the leader has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has recommended a similar move, including an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents. The administration in The Dutch government has advised families to block their children from social media until 15. Across the European Union, the EU parliament has adopted a non-binding resolution demanding a ban for minors except if a parent decides otherwise is provided. While it warns of the "habit-forming" quality of these services, the resolution does not enact mandatory rules. "A strong age limit is a solid foundation," said one parliamentarian supporting the resolution. Britain: A Watchful Eye For the United Kingdom, the government has not ruled out a possible ban, emphasizing that "no measure is being dismissed" but stressing any policy must be "based on conclusive research". Earlier, support built behind a legislative effort to enact controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately weakened. Instead, the government vowed to further research the topic. Advocacy groups have expressed concerns. One foundation founded by the relatives of a young person who took her own life after viewing dangerous platform posts argues that a blanket age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could result in a "cliff edge" of risk when teens turn 16. "This ban is a reaction to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to build tools that are safe and suitable for minors," stated a prominent online safety campaigner. America: A Decentralized Picture Across America, action is primarily unfolding at the local level due to national inaction. Utah requires adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and limits nighttime use. Florida has signed a bill prohibiting those below 14 from accessing social media, though it is subject to legal challenges. The state of Virginia has enacted a law limiting minors to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with additional use requiring adult consent. Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced measures requiring guardian approval for under-16s to create social media profiles. Even with cross-party agreement and proposals from some politicians to follow this path, a federal ban is right now seen as unlikely. International Perspectives Beyond these regions, further countries are similarly exploring options. The Malaysian government intends to ban social media for those under sixteen effective next year. Brazil has increased the minimum age for Instagram to 16. Yet, international agencies adopt a more cautious position. A major UN agency has advised that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "might prove counterproductive". The agency highlights that the internet can be a "lifeline" for marginalized youth and that bans should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to improve user protection. As this global debate evolves, the policies of Australia and several other countries show that states internationally are less and less content to stand by for the industry to make changes on their own.