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Australia's bold policy to prohibit social media access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples around the globe. Officials, safety advocates, and guardians are observing with great interest to see if this approach will set a precedent for other nations.

Across Europe Movement

Across Europe, a rising chorus of nations are moving toward comparable restrictions.

• Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the leader declaring that phones and platforms are "taking away our youngsters' innocence". Legislation may be enacted next year.
• Norway is preparing to introduce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to protect the young from the "power of the AI".
• Ireland is working on a digital ID system to verify the user details of social media account holders. The media minister have suggested that an Australia-style ban could be "an measures in reserve".
• In Spain, the president has called on parliament to pass a proposal 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 suggested a comparable step, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has urged families to prevent their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the EU parliament has adopted a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 without guardian approval is granted. Even though it warns of the "habit-forming" quality of these platforms, the resolution does not establish binding law.

"A clear age restriction is a good starting point," stated a leading MEP supporting the initiative.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Stance

In the UK, the administration has not ruled out a possible ban, emphasizing that "nothing is being dismissed" but stressing any action must be "grounded in strong research".

Earlier, interest built behind a legislative effort to enact controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end weakened. However, the government committed to conduct more studies the topic.

Charities have raised apprehensions. One foundation set up by the family of a young person who died after encountering harmful social media material contends that a strict age ban might not improve online safety and could result in a "dangerous transition" of harm when young people turn 16.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the inability of the Silicon Valley to create tools that are secure and suitable for young users," commented a prominent peer.

The US: A Fragmented Approach

Stateside, action is mostly unfolding at the regional level amid national gridlock.

• Utah requires adult approval for minors to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a bill barring under-14s from accessing social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• Virginia has passed a rule limiting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with any further time dependent on parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted laws demanding parental consent for minors to open social media accounts.

Despite cross-party agreement and suggestions from various politicians to mimic this lead, a US-wide ban is presently seen as improbable.

Global Perspectives

Beyond these regions, further states are also taking action.

• Malaysia plans to restrict social media for teenagers effective next year.
• Brazil has raised the access age for Instagram to 16.

However, global bodies strike a more measured position. The UN children's agency has warned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "might backfire". The organization highlights that the internet can be a "critical link" for marginalized youth and that bans should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to prioritize user protection.

Even as this worldwide discussion unfolds, the actions of the Australian government and several other countries indicate that states around the world are less and less willing to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.