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Australia's decisive move to restrict social media access for young people below 16 is creating waves around the globe. Officials, safety advocates, and parents are monitoring with great interest to see if this strategy will become a template for other nations.

Across Europe Movement

Across Europe, a growing group of states are considering parallel restrictions.

• The Danish government has stated a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the PM arguing that mobile devices and apps are "robbing our children's youth". Legislation is expected to be passed next year.
• The Norwegian government is set to implement a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to shield young people from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• Ireland is working on a digital ID system to authenticate the age and identity of social media account holders. Authorities have suggested that an Australia-style ban remains "a potential options in reserve".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked the legislature to approve a bill increasing the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has suggested a comparable step, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The government in The Dutch government has advised families to block their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has passed a non-binding resolution demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 unless parental consent is granted. Even though it highlights of the "addictive" nature of these services, the step does not establish mandatory rules.

"An effective age restriction is a useful starting point," commented one European lawmaker supporting the initiative.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the government has not ruled out a potential ban, emphasizing that "no option is discarded" but insisting any action must be "supported by conclusive data".

Last year, momentum grew behind a proposal to introduce controls on social media use by minors, but it was eventually modified. Instead, the government vowed to investigate the matter.

Charities have raised warnings. An organization set up by the family of a young person who was lost after viewing harmful social media material suggests that a strict age ban might not make platforms safer and could lead to a "cliff edge" of exposure when users turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to design products and services that are safe and suitable for minors," said a influential child protection advocate.

The United States: A Fragmented Approach

In the United States, legislation is largely unfolding at the state government level amid country-wide inaction.

• The state of Utah demands adult approval for minors to use social media and restricts late-night use.
• Florida has enacted a bill banning those below 14 from joining social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a regulation capping minors to one hour of social media use per day, with any further time requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted bills requiring adult authorization for teenagers to open social media presences.

Despite bipartisan support and calls from various politicians to copy the Australian lead, a federal ban is currently seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Outlook

Beyond Europe and the US, further countries are likewise considering moves.

• Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
• Brazil has increased the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, global organizations strike a more cautious position. The UN children's agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "might prove counterproductive". The agency notes that the internet can be a "vital connection" for isolated children and that government action should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to prioritize safety.

As this worldwide conversation evolves, the steps of this nation and others demonstrate that policymakers internationally are less and less willing to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.