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The Australian controversial move to ban social media access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples internationally. Officials, safety advocates, and families are monitoring intently to see if this strategy will become a template for other nations.

Across Europe Momentum

Throughout Europe, a growing chorus of nations are exploring comparable restrictions.

• Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the PM stating that mobile devices and networks are "stealing our youngsters' childhood". A law could be formalized next year.
• Norway is planning to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to protect the young from the "power of the algorithms".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the age and identity of social media users. Authorities have indicated that an similar ban remains "an measures under consideration".
• In Spain, the prime minister has called on the legislature to approve a law increasing the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a similar step, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The government in the Netherlands has urged families to block their kids from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has passed a non-binding statement demanding a ban for minors unless guardian approval is given. Even though it cautions of the "compulsive" design of these apps, the resolution does not create mandatory rules.

"A clear age restriction is a good first step," commented the European lawmaker driving the initiative.

The UK: A Cautious Approach

Across Britain, the government has not ruled out a future ban, emphasizing that "no measure is off the table" but stressing any action must be "supported by robust research".

Earlier, momentum gathered behind a proposal to enact limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually watered down. However, the government pledged to further research the matter.

Charities have raised apprehensions. An organization set up by the relatives of a girl who took her own life after viewing harmful platform posts contends that a simple age ban may not make platforms safer and could create a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when young people turn 16.

"The Australian ban is a response to the failure of the social media companies to design tools that are appropriate and age appropriate for minors," commented a leading online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Decentralized Approach

In the United States, legislation is primarily occurring at the regional level due to federal gridlock.

• Utah mandates adult approval for under-18s to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has signed a bill prohibiting those below 14 from accessing social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has approved a law limiting under-16s to a single hour of social media access per day, with any further use needing adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed bills requiring guardian approval for teenagers to open social media profiles.

Despite widespread concern and suggestions from various politicians to mimic this example, a nationwide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

International Views

Beyond Europe and the US, other nations are likewise exploring options.

• Malaysia intends to restrict social media for under-16s effective next year.
• Brazil has lifted the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, world organizations take a more nuanced tone. A major UN agency has warned that social media bans carry risks and "may even backfire". The organization points out that social networks can be a "critical link" for vulnerable youth and that bans should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to improve user protection.

As this global conversation unfolds, the actions of the Australian government and several other countries demonstrate that policymakers around the world are less and less content to wait for the industry to self-regulate.