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Australia's bold move to restrict social media access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples worldwide. Officials, child protection groups, and families are monitoring with great interest to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Trend

Throughout Europe, a growing number of countries are moving toward similar bans.

• The Danish government plans a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM declaring that smartphones and networks are "stealing our children's childhood". Legislation is expected to be formalized soon.
• The Norwegian government is planning to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to protect children from the "manipulative force of the AI".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to verify the age and identity of social media users. Officials have indicated that an similar ban remains "one of the measures on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has called on the legislature to pass a law raising the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has recommended a similar step, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The administration in The Dutch government has recommended parents to block their kids from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has approved a non-binding resolution demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 without parental consent is given. While it cautions of the "addictive" quality of these services, the step does not create mandatory rules.

"A strong age barrier is a useful first step," said one MEP behind the initiative.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Approach

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has kept open a potential ban, emphasizing that "no option is being dismissed" but maintaining any action must be "supported by robust evidence".

Earlier, support built behind a legislative effort to impose restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was eventually watered down. Instead, the government committed to further research the topic.

Charities have raised apprehensions. An organization founded by the family of a girl who was lost after encountering dangerous social media material contends that a strict age ban may not make platforms safer and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of exposure when users become eligible.

"This ban is a response to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to create products and services that are safe and fit for young users," stated a influential peer.

The United States: A Fragmented Picture

In the United States, legislation is mostly happening at the regional level amid national inaction.

• The state of Utah requires adult approval for minors to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has signed a bill prohibiting children under fourteen from joining social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• Virginia has passed a rule limiting teenagers to a single hour of social media access per day, with additional time needing parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise enacted measures requiring adult authorization for teenagers to set up social media profiles.

Despite widespread concern and suggestions from various politicians to mimic Australia's example, a nationwide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

Global Perspectives

Apart from the West, other states are likewise considering moves.

• The Malaysian government aims to restrict social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has lifted the access age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, international organizations strike a more nuanced tone. Unicef has cautioned that social media bans have downsides and "might backfire". The organization notes that social networks can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable children and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to invest in user protection.

Even as this global discussion continues, the steps of this nation and several other countries indicate that policymakers internationally are no longer willing to stand by for tech companies to act voluntarily.