Denmark and Several Nations Signal Global Shift Toward Restricting Social Media Access for Children
Following Australia’s implementation of a ban on social media for under-16s, governments in Europe and Asia are advancing or considering similar measures to protect youth online.
Australia has begun enforcing a world-first law prohibiting children under sixteen from accessing major social media platforms, a move national leaders present as a decisive step to safeguard youth mental health and wellbeing.
The Online Safety Amendment requires ten major services to block underage users or face significant fines, and the rollout has drawn intense international interest as other nations evaluate comparable strategies.
Denmark’s government has secured cross-party support to bar under-15s from social media, potentially putting age limits into law by mid-2026 while allowing parents to grant access from age thirteen in certain cases.
This plan would be among the most extensive restrictions enacted within the European Union, responding to data showing widespread underage platform use despite existing minimum age policies.
Other European jurisdictions are also active: the European Parliament has moved toward banning under-sixteen users without parental consent and endorsing protections against addictive design features, while individual nations such as Norway and France are advancing their own age-related controls and age verification systems.
In Asia, Malaysia’s cabinet has approved plans to restrict social media accounts for children under sixteen beginning next year, aligning with a broader governmental focus on shielding children from online harms such as cyberbullying and exploitation.
Debate on analogous legislation is underway in the United States, where lawmakers have reintroduced the “Kids Off Social Media Act” seeking to ban users under thirteen and curb algorithmic targeting of minors.
Public health experts and policymakers in countries observing Australia’s precedent are weighing the balance between online safety and digital autonomy, with some advocating for comprehensive education and parental engagement as complementary or alternative paths to statutory bans.
As these discussions unfold, Australia’s experience remains a focal point for global consideration of how best to protect children in an increasingly digital world.
The Online Safety Amendment requires ten major services to block underage users or face significant fines, and the rollout has drawn intense international interest as other nations evaluate comparable strategies.
Denmark’s government has secured cross-party support to bar under-15s from social media, potentially putting age limits into law by mid-2026 while allowing parents to grant access from age thirteen in certain cases.
This plan would be among the most extensive restrictions enacted within the European Union, responding to data showing widespread underage platform use despite existing minimum age policies.
Other European jurisdictions are also active: the European Parliament has moved toward banning under-sixteen users without parental consent and endorsing protections against addictive design features, while individual nations such as Norway and France are advancing their own age-related controls and age verification systems.
In Asia, Malaysia’s cabinet has approved plans to restrict social media accounts for children under sixteen beginning next year, aligning with a broader governmental focus on shielding children from online harms such as cyberbullying and exploitation.
Debate on analogous legislation is underway in the United States, where lawmakers have reintroduced the “Kids Off Social Media Act” seeking to ban users under thirteen and curb algorithmic targeting of minors.
Public health experts and policymakers in countries observing Australia’s precedent are weighing the balance between online safety and digital autonomy, with some advocating for comprehensive education and parental engagement as complementary or alternative paths to statutory bans.
As these discussions unfold, Australia’s experience remains a focal point for global consideration of how best to protect children in an increasingly digital world.
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