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Australia's bold policy to ban social media access for young people below 16 is sparking debate worldwide. Officials, campaigners, and parents are watching intently to see if this approach will become a template for other nations.

European Movement

Across Europe, a increasing number of states are considering similar restrictions.

• Denmark has announced a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the PM declaring that smartphones and apps are "robbing our kids' youth". Legislation is expected to be enacted soon.
• Norway is planning to implement a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to shield the young from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• Ireland is working on a online verification tool to verify the identity and age of social media users. The media minister have suggested that an Australian-model ban is "one of the options on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged lawmakers to enact a bill increasing the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has suggested a comparable action, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has urged guardians to restrict their kids from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has approved a non-binding statement calling for a ban for under-16s except if parental consent is given. Although it cautions of the "habit-forming" quality of these apps, the move does not create enforceable legislation.

"An effective age restriction is a useful starting point," commented the parliamentarian supporting the initiative.

The United Kingdom: A Watchful Approach

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "no option is being dismissed" but stressing any decision must be "grounded in robust evidence".

Last year, support grew behind a bill to introduce controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end weakened. Instead, the government pledged to investigate the matter.

Charities have expressed apprehensions. A prominent charity established by the relatives of a girl who took her own life after being exposed to harmful platform posts suggests that a simple age ban may not improve online safety and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when users reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a response to the failure of the Silicon Valley to build products and services that are secure and fit for minors," stated a prominent peer.

The United States: A Fragmented Approach

Stateside, legislation is primarily happening at the local government level amid country-wide inaction.

• Utah mandates adult approval for under-18s to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has signed a measure banning under-14s from joining social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has approved a regulation restricting minors to a single hour of social media time per day, with extra use dependent on parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted laws mandating adult authorization for teenagers to open social media profiles.

Despite bipartisan support and proposals from certain individuals to follow the Australian path, a federal ban is currently seen as improbable.

Global Perspectives

Beyond the West, other nations are also taking action.

• Malaysia intends to restrict social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• Brazil has lifted the required age for one major platform to 16.

But, international bodies strike a more measured tone. A major UN agency has warned that social media bans have downsides and "may even prove counterproductive". The agency highlights that the internet can be a "critical link" for isolated youth and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to prioritize user protection.

While this global conversation unfolds, the policies of this nation and its followers indicate that governments globally are less and less prepared to delay for the industry to self-regulate.