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Australia's decisive move to ban social media access for those under 16 is creating waves internationally. Lawmakers, campaigners, and guardians are monitoring intently to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

The European Trend

Across Europe, a rising chorus of countries are exploring comparable measures.

• Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the leader declaring that mobile devices and networks are "stealing our children's childhood". The policy is expected to be formalized in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to enforce a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to protect young people from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is working on a online verification tool to verify the user details of social media participants. Officials have stated that an Australian-model ban is "a potential options on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has called on the legislature to enact a proposal increasing the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has recommended a similar step, including an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has recommended families to prevent their youngsters from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the EU parliament has adopted a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for minors except if parental consent is given. Although it warns of the "addictive" design of these apps, the resolution does not create mandatory rules.

"A clear age barrier is a solid foundation," said the parliamentarian driving the initiative.

Britain: A Watchful Approach

In the UK, the leadership has not ruled out a potential ban, emphasizing that "no measure is discarded" but stressing any decision must be "based on strong data".

Previously, interest gathered behind a bill to impose controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end weakened. Instead, the government vowed to further research the issue.

Campaign organizations have raised apprehensions. One foundation established by the family of a young person who was lost after viewing dangerous platform posts contends that a strict age ban might not improve online safety and could create a "dangerous transition" of exposure when teens become eligible.

"This ban is a reaction to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to create products and services that are appropriate and age appropriate for minors," stated a prominent child protection advocate.

The United States: A Decentralized Picture

Across America, regulation is largely occurring at the regional government level due to country-wide inaction.

• Utah mandates parental consent for minors to use social media and controls overnight use.
• Florida has passed a bill prohibiting under-14s from accessing social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has enacted a rule limiting minors to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with any further time needing a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed laws demanding guardian approval for teenagers to open social media presences.

Even with widespread concern and proposals from some politicians to follow Australia's lead, a nationwide ban is currently seen as improbable.

Global Perspectives

Apart from these regions, other countries are similarly considering moves.

• Malaysia plans to restrict social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• Brazil has lifted the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, international organizations adopt a more cautious tone. Unicef has advised that age-based restrictions carry risks and "could prove counterproductive". The agency highlights that social networks can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable young people and that government action should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to prioritize safety.

Even as this international conversation unfolds, the policies of this nation and several other countries demonstrate that policymakers internationally are less and less prepared to wait for platforms to self-regulate.