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Australia's bold policy to prohibit social media access for those under 16 is sending ripples internationally. Lawmakers, campaigners, and parents are watching with great interest to see if this approach will become a template for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Momentum

Throughout Europe, a increasing chorus of countries are moving toward comparable restrictions.

• Denmark has stated a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the leader stating that mobile devices and platforms are "stealing our youngsters' youth". A law may be formalized soon.
• Norway is preparing to introduce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to safeguard the young from the "power of the AI".
• Ireland is introducing a digital ID system to confirm the user details of social media participants. Authorities have suggested that an similar ban remains "a potential measures in reserve".
• In Spain, the president has urged lawmakers to approve a bill increasing the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has recommended a similar step, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The administration in the Netherlands has advised parents to restrict their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has passed a advisory motion demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 unless a parent decides otherwise is given. Although it highlights of the "habit-forming" design of these services, the move does not establish binding law.

"A clear age barrier is a useful foundation," stated the parliamentarian driving the measure.

Britain: A Watchful Approach

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has kept open a possible ban, stating that "nothing is being dismissed" but insisting any policy must be "supported by conclusive evidence".

Previously, support grew behind a bill to enact controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually modified. However, the government pledged to conduct more studies the issue.

Advocacy groups have raised apprehensions. A prominent charity founded by the family of a teenager who took her own life after encountering disturbing platform posts suggests that a strict age ban might not make platforms safer and could lead to a "cliff edge" of exposure when teens reach the legal age.

"This ban is a response to the refusal of the social media companies to build products and services that are appropriate and age appropriate for children," stated a prominent online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Decentralized Approach

Stateside, legislation is mostly happening at the state level against a backdrop of federal inaction.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a law barring under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• The state of Virginia has approved a law restricting under-16s to a single hour of social media use per day, with any further time dependent on adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also enacted bills requiring adult authorization for teenagers to set up social media profiles.

Despite bipartisan support and calls from various figures to mimic Australia's lead, a nationwide ban is currently seen as improbable.

International Views

Apart from the West, other nations are likewise exploring options.

• Malaysia plans to prohibit social media for under-16s effective next year.
• Brazil has increased the access age for Instagram to 16.

But, international bodies take a more nuanced position. Unicef has warned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "could prove counterproductive". The organization points out that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for marginalized youth and that government action should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to invest in child safeguards.

As this worldwide discussion continues, the steps of Australia and others indicate that policymakers internationally are no longer willing to stand by for tech companies to act voluntarily.