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Australia's controversial move to restrict social media access for young people below 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Officials, safety advocates, and guardians are watching closely to see if this approach will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

European Movement

Across Europe, a increasing chorus of countries are exploring similar bans.

• Denmark plans a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the PM declaring that mobile devices and networks are "taking away our children's childhood". Legislation may be enacted in the coming year.
• Norway is planning to introduce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to protect the young from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is working on a online verification tool to confirm the user details of social media participants. The media minister have indicated that an Australia-style ban is "a potential options under consideration".
• In Spain, the leader has called on parliament to pass a proposal lifting the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a comparable step, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has advised families to prevent their youngsters from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has adopted a non-binding statement supporting a ban for minors except if guardian approval is granted. While it cautions of the "addictive" quality of these services, the step does not enact mandatory rules.

"An effective age limit is a good first step," stated the MEP behind the resolution.

The UK: A Watchful Stance

Across Britain, the leadership has not ruled out a future ban, stating that "no measure is off the table" but insisting any decision must be "grounded in strong research".

Earlier, momentum built behind a proposal to impose limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately modified. Nonetheless, the government pledged to further research the topic.

Campaign organizations have expressed warnings. An organization founded by the family of a young person who died after viewing disturbing platform posts contends that a strict age ban could fail to protect children and could create a "sudden drop-off" of risk when teens turn 16.

"This ban is a response to the failure of the Silicon Valley to create tools that are appropriate and suitable for children," stated a influential child protection advocate.

America: A State-by-State Picture

Across America, regulation is mostly happening at the state government level amid country-wide gridlock.

• Utah requires parental consent for under-18s to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• Florida has passed a bill banning children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• Virginia has passed a rule limiting teenagers to a single hour of social media time per day, with additional access dependent on a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced measures mandating adult authorization for teenagers to open social media profiles.

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

International Views

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

• Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

However, world organizations adopt a more nuanced tone. Unicef has advised that social media bans carry risks and "could have unintended consequences". The agency highlights that social networks can be a "critical link" for marginalized young people and that government action should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to invest in user protection.

Even as this global debate continues, the actions of Australia and others indicate that governments internationally are no longer content to wait for platforms to act voluntarily.