India, July 9 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday praised Australia's decision to bar children under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms, saying the country's efforts to regulate the digital space and protect young users offer important lessons for India and the rest of the world.

Addressing the Australia-India Annual Leaders' Summit in Melbourne alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Modi said India was closely studying Australia's approach to creating a safer online environment for children.

Australia's landmark law

Modi's remarks come as Australia presses ahead with one of the world's strictest social media regulations, requiring major platforms to prevent users under the age of 16 from c...