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Australia's bold action to ban social media access for those under 16 is creating waves around the globe. Officials, child protection groups, and families are monitoring intently to see if this approach will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Movement

In Europe, a increasing chorus of nations are exploring similar restrictions.

• The Danish government has announced a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister stating that mobile devices and networks are "taking away our kids' youth". Legislation may be formalized in the coming year.
• Norway is set to enforce a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to shield the young from the "power of the AI".
• Ireland is working on a digital ID system to verify the age and identity of social media account holders. The media minister have suggested that an similar ban remains "one of the measures under consideration".
• In Spain, the leader has urged lawmakers to pass a proposal lifting the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has suggested a similar step, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The government in the Netherlands has advised guardians to prevent their children from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has passed a symbolic motion calling for a ban for under-16s without parental consent is granted. Even though it highlights of the "addictive" nature of these services, the resolution does not enact mandatory rules.

"A clear age limit is a useful foundation," commented the parliamentarian behind the initiative.

Britain: A Watchful Eye

For the United Kingdom, the government has remained open to a potential ban, stating that "no measure is being dismissed" but insisting any decision must be "grounded in robust evidence".

Last year, momentum built behind a legislative effort to enact controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually weakened. Instead, the administration vowed to further research the matter.

Advocacy groups have voiced concerns. One foundation founded by the family of a young person who took her own life after viewing harmful online content contends that a strict age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of exposure when users become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a response to the failure of the tech sector to build tools that are safe and age appropriate for young users," commented a leading child protection advocate.

The US: A Decentralized Approach

Stateside, regulation is primarily unfolding at the state level against a backdrop of federal inaction.

• Utah demands adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has passed a measure prohibiting under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has passed a regulation limiting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with additional time needing parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed bills mandating guardian approval for under-16s to create social media presences.

Even with widespread concern and suggestions from certain politicians to follow Australia's path, a federal ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Views

Beyond these regions, further states are similarly considering moves.

• Malaysia plans to restrict social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• Brazil has increased the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, world organizations strike a more nuanced position. A major UN agency has warned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "could backfire". The agency highlights that social networks can be a "critical link" for isolated young people and that bans should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to improve user protection.

Even as this international debate continues, the steps of Australia and others show that governments internationally are no longer willing to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.