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Australia's controversial action to restrict social media access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples around the globe. Officials, campaigners, and families are observing with great interest to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for other nations.

European Movement

In Europe, a increasing group of countries are considering similar restrictions.

• Denmark plans a ban on social media for under-15s, with the leader stating that smartphones and networks are "robbing our youngsters' childhood". Legislation may be formalized next year.
• Norway is preparing to introduce a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to protect the young from the "influence of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is working on a digital ID system to authenticate the user details of social media account holders. Officials have indicated that an similar ban could be "an measures in reserve".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged parliament to approve a law lifting the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a similar action, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The government in The Netherlands has urged guardians to restrict their kids from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has approved a advisory statement supporting a ban for under-16s unless guardian approval is provided. While it warns of the "habit-forming" nature of these platforms, the resolution does not create enforceable legislation.

"A clear age restriction is a good starting point," said the European lawmaker driving the measure.

The United Kingdom: A Watchful Eye

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has kept open a possible ban, stating that "nothing is discarded" but insisting any action must be "based on robust evidence".

Last year, momentum built behind a bill to impose controls on social media use by minors, but it was eventually weakened. However, the government pledged to conduct more studies the matter.

Charities have voiced concerns. A prominent charity set up by the family of a teenager who died after encountering harmful social media material argues that a simple age ban could fail to improve online safety and could create a "cliff edge" of harm when young people turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the failure of the tech sector to design platforms and apps that are safe and fit for young users," commented a influential child protection advocate.

America: A Decentralized Approach

In the United States, regulation is primarily happening at the state level due to country-wide inaction.

• Utah requires guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and controls late-night use.
• Florida has passed a measure barring children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a rule restricting minors to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with any further use dependent on parental permission.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced measures mandating adult authorization for teenagers to create social media accounts.

Even with cross-party agreement and calls from certain individuals to follow the Australian example, a federal ban is currently seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Views

Beyond these regions, additional nations are similarly taking action.

• Malaysia plans to ban social media for teenagers effective next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has increased the access age for one major platform to 16.

Yet, global agencies adopt a more nuanced tone. The UN children's agency has advised that social media bans have downsides and "could have unintended consequences". The body highlights that social networks can be a "critical link" for vulnerable young people and that government action should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to invest in user protection.

While this worldwide discussion continues, the steps of the Australian government and others show that states internationally are less and less willing to wait for the industry to act voluntarily.