🔗 Share this article Could Different Nations Follow Australia's in Banning Online Networks for Teenagers Under 16? Australia's decisive action to ban social media access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Politicians, safety advocates, and parents are watching with great interest to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad. Across Europe Momentum Throughout Europe, a rising group of countries are exploring similar restrictions. Denmark has announced a ban on social media for under-15s, with the leader stating that mobile devices and apps are "robbing our kids' childhood". The policy could be formalized soon. Norway is planning to introduce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to shield the young from the "influence of the AI". Ireland is working on a digital ID system to authenticate the age and identity of social media participants. The media minister have suggested that an Australian-model ban could be "a potential measures in reserve". In Spain, the president has asked lawmakers to approve a law lifting the access age for accessing social media to 16. In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has recommended a comparable move, including an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers. The administration in the Netherlands has urged families to restrict their children from social media before 15. Across the European Union, the European parliament has passed a non-binding motion demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 without parental consent is provided. Even though it warns of the "compulsive" design of these apps, the step does not establish mandatory rules. "A clear age restriction is a good starting point," commented the European lawmaker driving the resolution. The UK: An Evidence-Based Approach Across Britain, the leadership has remained open to a potential ban, arguing that "no measure is being dismissed" but insisting any decision must be "supported by conclusive evidence". Earlier, momentum gathered behind a legislative effort to introduce controls on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately weakened. Instead, the administration pledged to investigate the matter. Charities have voiced concerns. A prominent charity set up by the loved ones of a young person who took her own life after viewing harmful social media material suggests that a strict age ban may not protect children and could result in a "cliff edge" of exposure when teens reach the legal age. "This ban is a reaction to the refusal of the social media companies to create tools that are appropriate and fit for children," commented a influential child protection advocate. America: A Decentralized Landscape Across America, action is largely happening at the local level against a backdrop of country-wide inaction. Utah requires parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and restricts nighttime use. Florida has enacted a law banning children under fourteen from joining social media, though it faces constitutional disputes. Virginia has passed a rule capping teenagers to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with any further access requiring parental permission. The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed laws mandating parental consent for under-16s to set up social media profiles. Even with cross-party agreement and proposals from some individuals to copy this lead, a nationwide ban is presently seen as a distant prospect. Global Views Apart from Europe and the US, other countries are similarly exploring options. Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for under-16s effective next year. Brazil has lifted the access age for Instagram to 16. However, world agencies take a more cautious position. The UN children's agency has warned that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "could backfire". The organization highlights that the internet can be a "vital connection" for marginalized young people and that government action should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to improve child safeguards. While this global debate evolves, the policies of Australia and others demonstrate that governments internationally are increasingly content to wait for platforms to self-regulate.