🔗 Share this article Could Other Countries Emulate Australia's in Restricting Online Networks for Under-16s? The nation's decisive move to restrict social platforms access for young people below 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Politicians, child protection groups, and guardians are observing intently to see if this approach will set a precedent for countries abroad. Across Europe Momentum Throughout Europe, a rising group of nations are exploring comparable restrictions. The Danish government has announced a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the leader arguing that phones and networks are "robbing our children's innocence". A law could be passed in the coming year. The Norwegian government is set to implement a age restriction of 15, citing the need to protect young people from the "manipulative force of the AI". Ireland is developing a digital ID system to confirm the user details of social media users. The media minister have suggested that an Australian-model ban remains "an measures on the table". In The Spanish government, the prime minister has called on lawmakers to enact a bill lifting the minimum age for joining social media to 16. In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a similar step, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents. The government in the Netherlands has recommended families to restrict their kids from social media before 15. Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has passed a symbolic statement supporting a ban for minors unless guardian approval is granted. Even though it cautions of the "compulsive" quality of these services, the resolution does not enact mandatory rules. "An effective age barrier is a good foundation," said one European lawmaker driving the resolution. The UK: A Watchful Eye For the United Kingdom, the administration has kept open a potential ban, stating that "no option is discarded" but stressing any action must be "based on conclusive research". Last year, momentum grew behind a proposal to introduce controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately watered down. Instead, the administration pledged to conduct more studies the topic. Campaign organizations have raised apprehensions. A prominent charity established by the loved ones of a girl who was lost after being exposed to dangerous online content contends that a strict age ban could fail to protect children and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of risk when young people become eligible. "The Australian ban is a answer to the inability of the social media companies to design platforms and apps that are secure and age appropriate for children," stated a prominent peer. The US: A Decentralized Landscape Stateside, legislation is primarily unfolding at the local government level against a backdrop of national gridlock. Utah mandates parental consent for minors to use social media and controls late-night use. The state of Florida has enacted a bill barring under-14s from joining social media, though it faces constitutional disputes. Virginia has enacted a rule capping teenagers to a single hour of social media access per day, with any further access needing adult consent. Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted bills requiring parental consent for minors to create social media profiles. Despite widespread concern and suggestions from various individuals to follow the Australian path, a federal ban is presently seen as a distant prospect. International Views Outside of these regions, additional nations are similarly considering moves. Malaysia plans to restrict social media for under-16s beginning next year. Brazil has lifted the minimum age for one major platform to 16. However, world agencies strike a more cautious position. Unicef has cautioned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "might prove counterproductive". The agency notes that the internet can be a "lifeline" for marginalized youth and that government action should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to prioritize safety. While this international conversation evolves, the policies of the Australian government and several other countries demonstrate that policymakers internationally are less and less willing to wait for the industry to self-regulate.