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Australia's decisive move to restrict social media access for those under 16 is creating waves internationally. Lawmakers, campaigners, and guardians are observing closely to see if this strategy will become a template for other nations.

Across Europe Movement

Throughout Europe, a increasing group of states are moving toward comparable bans.

• Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister arguing that phones and platforms are "robbing our kids' youth". Legislation may be formalized in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to enforce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to protect young people from the "influence of the AI".
• Ireland is developing a digital ID system to verify the identity and age of social media account holders. Officials have indicated that an similar ban remains "an tools in reserve".
• In Spain, the president has urged the legislature to enact a law increasing the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has suggested a comparable move, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The administration in The Netherlands has advised parents to restrict their children from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has adopted a non-binding statement calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 without guardian approval is provided. Although it warns of the "addictive" quality of these apps, the resolution does not enact mandatory rules.

"A clear age restriction is a useful starting point," commented the MEP driving the resolution.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Eye

Across Britain, the government has remained open to a possible ban, stating that "no measure is off the table" but insisting any action must be "grounded in robust evidence".

Earlier, momentum gathered behind a proposal to impose limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately watered down. However, the government vowed to investigate the matter.

Charities have voiced apprehensions. A prominent charity established by the relatives of a young person who died after being exposed to dangerous social media material contends that a simple age ban may not improve online safety and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of risk when young people reach the legal age.

"This ban is a response to the failure of the Silicon Valley to design products and services that are secure and age appropriate for minors," stated a influential peer.

The US: A State-by-State Picture

Across America, action is largely unfolding at the regional level amid federal gridlock.

• Utah mandates parental consent for under-18s to use social media and controls overnight use.
• Florida has signed a measure barring under-14s from joining social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has passed a regulation restricting minors to a single hour of social media use per day, with any further access dependent on a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly enacted measures demanding guardian approval for minors to set up social media accounts.

Even with cross-party agreement and proposals from various figures to mimic Australia's lead, a federal ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

Global Outlook

Outside of Europe and the US, further nations are similarly considering moves.

• Malaysia intends to ban social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
• Brazil has raised the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, international bodies adopt a more nuanced position. The UN children's agency has warned that social media bans pose dangers and "could have unintended consequences". The body notes that the internet can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable children and that government action should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to prioritize child safeguards.

Even as this global conversation evolves, the policies of the Australian government and several other countries demonstrate that policymakers internationally are less and less willing to wait for the industry to make changes on their own.