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The Australian decisive move to restrict social media access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Politicians, child protection groups, and families are monitoring intently to see if this tactic will become a template for other nations.

The European Movement

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

• The Danish government has stated a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the PM arguing that phones and networks are "stealing our children's childhood". Legislation may be formalized soon.
• Norway is set to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard young people from the "influence of the AI".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the identity and age of social media users. Officials have suggested that an similar ban could be "one of the options in reserve".
• In Spain, the leader has asked lawmakers to approve a law lifting the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has recommended a similar step, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The government in The Netherlands has advised guardians to prevent their children from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has passed a advisory motion calling for a ban for under-16s unless a parent decides otherwise is granted. Even though it cautions of the "habit-forming" quality of these apps, the step does not create binding law.

"A strong age barrier is a good foundation," commented one MEP supporting the initiative.

Britain: A Cautious Eye

For the United Kingdom, the administration has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "nothing is discarded" but maintaining any action must be "based on strong evidence".

Earlier, momentum grew behind a bill to enact limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually watered down. However, the government committed to further research the issue.

Campaign organizations have raised warnings. An organization established by the family of a young person who took her own life after encountering disturbing social media material suggests that a blanket age ban might not make platforms safer and could result in a "dangerous transition" of harm when young people reach the legal age.

"This ban is a response to the refusal of the tech sector to create platforms and apps that are secure and fit for children," commented a influential child protection advocate.

The United States: A Decentralized Landscape

In the United States, action is primarily occurring at the regional level against a backdrop of country-wide gridlock.

• Utah mandates adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has signed a measure prohibiting under-14s from accessing social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has approved a law capping minors to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with additional time dependent on adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly enacted laws demanding adult authorization for minors to set up social media presences.

Despite widespread concern and suggestions from certain politicians to mimic this example, a nationwide ban is presently seen as improbable.

Worldwide Views

Apart from these regions, additional states are similarly exploring options.

• Malaysia intends to restrict social media for teenagers effective next year.
• Brazil has raised the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

However, international agencies adopt a more nuanced position. Unicef has advised that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "could prove counterproductive". The agency notes that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for marginalized young people and that bans should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to improve safety.

As this international discussion evolves, the policies of Australia and its followers show that policymakers around the world are no longer prepared to delay for platforms to make changes on their own.