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Australia's bold policy to prohibit social media access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples worldwide. Politicians, safety advocates, and parents are watching with great interest to see if this approach will set a precedent for countries abroad.

The European Momentum

In Europe, a rising group of states are exploring similar restrictions.

• The Danish government has stated a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM declaring that smartphones and networks are "stealing our youngsters' childhood". A law may be formalized in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is planning to introduce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to protect young people from the "manipulative force of the AI".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to confirm the user details of social media participants. Authorities have suggested that an Australian-model ban is "one of the options on the table".
• In Spain, the president has called on lawmakers to enact a law raising the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a related move, including an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The administration in the Netherlands has recommended guardians to prevent their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has passed a advisory statement supporting a ban for minors unless parental consent is given. Even though it highlights of the "addictive" nature of these apps, the move does not create binding law.

"A clear age limit is a solid starting point," stated a leading European lawmaker behind the measure.

The United Kingdom: A Watchful Eye

In the UK, the government has remained open to a potential ban, arguing that "no option is discarded" but insisting any action must be "supported by strong research".

Previously, interest built behind a proposal to introduce restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end weakened. However, the administration committed to further research the topic.

Campaign organizations have voiced warnings. A prominent charity set up by the family of a teenager who was lost after viewing harmful social media material argues that a simple age ban might not make platforms safer and could result in a "cliff edge" of risk when users reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the failure of the tech sector to create products and services that are safe and age appropriate for children," stated a influential child protection advocate.

The United States: A Fragmented Picture

Across America, regulation is largely occurring at the local level against a backdrop of country-wide gridlock.

• The state of Utah mandates parental consent for minors to use social media and controls late-night use.
• The state of Florida has signed a law barring those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has passed a regulation limiting minors to a single hour of social media access per day, with extra access dependent on adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced measures mandating parental consent for teenagers to set up social media profiles.

Despite cross-party agreement and calls from various figures to copy the Australian lead, a federal ban is presently seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Perspectives

Beyond the West, additional states are also exploring options.

• The Malaysian government aims to prohibit social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
• Brazil has raised the required age for one major platform to 16.

However, world agencies strike a more cautious tone. A major UN agency has warned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "might have unintended consequences". The organization highlights that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for marginalized young people and that bans should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to invest in user protection.

Even as this international debate continues, the policies of the Australian government and others demonstrate that states globally are less and less prepared to stand by for the industry to act voluntarily.