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The Australian decisive policy to restrict social media access for those under 16 is creating waves internationally. Officials, campaigners, and families are watching intently to see if this strategy will become a template for other nations.

The European Trend

In Europe, a rising group of countries are moving toward similar bans.

• Denmark has stated a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM arguing that phones and apps are "taking away our kids' innocence". A law could be formalized soon.
• Norway is preparing to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to protect young people from the "power of the AI".
• The Irish government is developing a digital wallet to confirm the user details of social media account holders. Authorities have stated that an Australian-model ban could be "one of the tools in reserve".
• In Spain, the leader has asked the legislature to approve a bill increasing the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a related move, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has urged parents to restrict their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has approved a non-binding statement supporting a ban for minors without a parent decides otherwise is given. While it cautions of the "habit-forming" quality of these platforms, the step does not enact binding law.

"An effective age limit is a good starting point," said the European lawmaker behind the resolution.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Approach

Across Britain, the leadership has remained open to a potential ban, emphasizing that "nothing is being dismissed" but stressing any policy must be "grounded in strong data".

Previously, interest grew behind a bill to enact restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually weakened. Instead, the government committed to further research the issue.

Campaign organizations have expressed warnings. An organization set up by the relatives of a young person who was lost after viewing disturbing social media material contends that a strict age ban might not make platforms safer and could result in a "cliff edge" of harm when young people become eligible.

"This ban is a reaction to the failure of the Silicon Valley to design platforms and apps that are safe and age appropriate for minors," said a leading peer.

America: A Fragmented Picture

Across America, regulation is mostly occurring at the state government level amid federal inaction.

• The state of Utah requires guardian permission for minors to use social media and controls overnight use.
• Florida has signed a bill prohibiting children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• Virginia has enacted a law limiting teenagers to a single hour of social media access per day, with any further access dependent on adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted measures mandating adult authorization for minors to set up social media accounts.

Despite bipartisan support and suggestions from various figures to follow Australia's lead, a US-wide ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Perspectives

Beyond the West, additional nations are similarly exploring options.

• The Malaysian government intends to restrict social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, international agencies adopt a more nuanced stance. The UN children's agency has warned that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "might prove counterproductive". The organization points out that online platforms can be a "critical link" for vulnerable children and that bans should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to prioritize safety.

While this international discussion continues, the steps of this nation and others demonstrate that states globally are increasingly willing to stand by for the industry to make changes on their own.