🔗 Share this article Could Other States Emulate Australia's Example in Prohibiting Online Networks for Teenagers Under 16? Australia's controversial policy to ban social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves around the globe. Politicians, campaigners, and families are watching intently to see if this tactic will set a precedent for the rest of the world. The European Trend In Europe, a rising chorus of states are moving toward comparable measures. The Danish government has announced a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the PM arguing that smartphones and networks are "taking away our kids' childhood". The policy could be enacted soon. Norway is preparing to enforce a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard children 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 participants. Authorities have suggested that an similar ban could be "an options on the table". In The Spanish government, the leader has called on the legislature to approve a bill lifting the legal age for joining social media to 16. In France, the leader has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a similar step, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds. The government in the Netherlands has urged parents to restrict their children from social media up to the age of 15. Across the European Union, the EU parliament has approved a advisory resolution supporting a ban for under-16s without a parent decides otherwise is provided. While it highlights of the "addictive" quality of these platforms, the resolution does not enact binding law. "A clear age restriction is a solid starting point," commented one parliamentarian supporting the initiative. The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Eye In the UK, the leadership has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "nothing is off the table" but insisting any action must be "based on robust evidence". Previously, support built behind a legislative effort to enact restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was in the end watered down. Instead, the government committed to investigate the topic. Charities have voiced warnings. An organization set up by the family of a girl who took her own life after encountering dangerous platform posts suggests that a strict age ban may not protect children and could result in a "dangerous transition" of exposure when users reach the legal age. "The Australian ban is a answer to the inability of the social media companies to design platforms and apps that are appropriate and age appropriate for children," said a leading online safety campaigner. The US: A State-by-State Picture Stateside, legislation is mostly happening at the regional government level against a backdrop of federal inaction. Utah demands parental consent for minors to use social media and limits nighttime use. Florida has passed a measure barring children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it faces court battles. Virginia has approved a rule limiting under-16s to one hour of social media time per day, with additional time needing parental permission. Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced bills requiring parental consent for minors to create social media presences. Even with bipartisan support and suggestions from various individuals to mimic this example, a US-wide ban is presently seen as improbable. Global Perspectives Apart from the West, other nations are likewise considering moves. Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for teenagers effective next year. Brazil has lifted the access age for one major platform to 16. But, global organizations adopt a more cautious stance. The UN children's agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "may even prove counterproductive". The organization highlights that online platforms can be a "critical link" for vulnerable youth and that government action should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to improve child safeguards. As this international conversation continues, the actions of this nation and several other countries demonstrate that states globally are no longer prepared to wait for tech companies to self-regulate.