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The Australian decisive action to restrict social media access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Politicians, child protection groups, and families are monitoring intently to see if this approach will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

European Trend

Throughout Europe, a increasing number of nations are moving toward comparable restrictions.

• Denmark plans a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister arguing that mobile devices and networks are "robbing our kids' youth". The policy may be passed soon.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to enforce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to protect children from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to verify the age and identity of social media users. Officials have indicated that an Australian-model ban is "an measures under consideration".
• In Spain, the leader has called on parliament to approve a bill increasing the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has endorsed a comparable move, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in the Netherlands has urged families to prevent their children from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has approved a symbolic statement demanding a ban for under-16s except if a parent decides otherwise is granted. Even though it highlights of the "compulsive" quality of these services, the move does not enact enforceable legislation.

"A clear age limit is a solid foundation," commented a leading European lawmaker supporting the initiative.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Stance

In the UK, the government has not ruled out a future ban, stating that "nothing is discarded" but stressing any policy must be "based on conclusive data".

Previously, interest gathered behind a proposal to introduce restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was eventually weakened. Instead, the government committed to investigate the matter.

Advocacy groups have raised apprehensions. An organization founded by the family of a young person who was lost after being exposed to dangerous online content suggests 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 refusal of the social media companies to build platforms and apps that are secure and fit for young users," stated a influential child protection advocate.

America: A State-by-State Approach

Stateside, regulation is mostly occurring at the state level against a backdrop of country-wide gridlock.

• Utah demands guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• The state of Florida has signed a bill barring under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has passed a law capping teenagers to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with any further access requiring a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced measures demanding guardian approval for teenagers to set up social media profiles.

Despite widespread concern and suggestions from some politicians to copy the Australian lead, a nationwide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Outlook

Outside of the West, further countries are similarly considering moves.

• Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for teenagers effective next year.
• Brazil has lifted the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, global organizations strike a more cautious position. A major UN agency has warned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "could backfire". The organization highlights that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable young people and that bans should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to invest in safety.

As this international debate unfolds, the actions of Australia and its followers show that states globally are no longer content to delay for tech companies to self-regulate.