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Australia's bold move to ban social media access for young people below 16 is creating waves around the globe. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and families are observing closely to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

The European Momentum

Throughout Europe, a rising number of nations are considering parallel measures.

• The Danish government plans a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the PM stating that mobile devices and platforms are "taking away our kids' childhood". The policy could be enacted in the coming year.
• Norway is planning to implement a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to shield children from the "power of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is introducing a digital wallet to verify the user details of social media participants. The media minister have stated that an similar ban is "one of the tools in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the president has urged the legislature to enact a law lifting the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a similar step, including an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has advised families to block their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has passed a symbolic resolution supporting a ban for under-16s unless a parent decides otherwise is provided. Even though it cautions of the "addictive" nature of these platforms, the resolution does not enact mandatory rules.

"A clear age barrier is a useful foundation," said one MEP behind the resolution.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Approach

In the UK, the administration has kept open a possible ban, emphasizing that "no measure is off the table" but maintaining any action must be "supported by strong data".

Earlier, interest grew behind a proposal to enact controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end watered down. Nonetheless, the administration pledged to investigate the issue.

Charities have voiced warnings. A prominent charity founded by the loved ones of a young person who was lost after being exposed to harmful online content contends that a strict age ban may not make platforms safer and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of harm when users turn 16.

"This ban is a answer to the inability of the tech sector to create platforms and apps that are appropriate and fit for children," commented a leading child protection advocate.

America: A Fragmented Picture

In the United States, regulation is primarily occurring at the local level due to federal stalemate.

• Utah requires guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has passed a law prohibiting children under fourteen from joining social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has approved a regulation restricting teenagers to a single hour of social media use per day, with any further time requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced measures mandating adult authorization for minors to open social media presences.

Even with bipartisan support and calls from some politicians to follow this example, a US-wide ban is currently seen as unlikely.

International Perspectives

Outside of these regions, other states are similarly considering moves.

• Malaysia aims to restrict social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• Brazil has increased the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

However, global bodies adopt a more measured tone. Unicef has warned that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "could backfire". The body notes that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for isolated young people and that government action should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to prioritize child safeguards.

As this international discussion unfolds, the policies of the Australian government and several other countries demonstrate that governments internationally are increasingly willing to stand by for platforms to self-regulate.