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The Australian bold policy to restrict social media access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Officials, child protection groups, and families are watching with great interest to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

Across Europe Trend

Across Europe, a rising chorus of countries are moving toward similar restrictions.

• Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister declaring that mobile devices and platforms are "stealing our children's innocence". Legislation is expected to be formalized in the coming year.
• Norway is set to implement a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard the young from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the user details of social media users. The media minister have indicated that an similar ban remains "an options on the table".
• In Spain, the president has called on lawmakers to pass a bill raising the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has endorsed a similar action, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in the Netherlands has advised guardians to prevent their children from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has adopted a symbolic statement demanding a ban for under-16s unless a parent decides otherwise is granted. Even though it highlights of the "habit-forming" quality of these platforms, the move does not create binding law.

"A clear age barrier is a useful starting point," said the MEP supporting the resolution.

Britain: A Cautious Stance

Across Britain, the administration has kept open a future ban, stating that "no option is being dismissed" but stressing any action must be "grounded in conclusive research".

Previously, support gathered behind a proposal to introduce limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end weakened. Nonetheless, the administration vowed to investigate the matter.

Campaign organizations have expressed apprehensions. A prominent charity established by the loved ones of a girl who was lost after viewing disturbing platform posts argues that a blanket age ban might not improve online safety and could lead to a "cliff edge" of exposure when teens turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a response to the failure of the social media companies to build platforms and apps that are secure and age appropriate for minors," stated a prominent online safety campaigner.

America: A Decentralized Approach

Stateside, action is mostly occurring at the state government level due to national stalemate.

• Utah requires parental consent for minors to use social media and restricts late-night use.
• Florida has enacted a bill prohibiting those below 14 from accessing social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has enacted a regulation capping under-16s to a single hour of social media use per day, with extra time needing adult consent.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced measures mandating parental consent for minors to set up social media profiles.

Despite cross-party agreement and calls from some figures to mimic the Australian path, a US-wide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

Global Perspectives

Outside of Europe and the US, other countries are similarly taking action.

• Malaysia intends to restrict social media for teenagers effective next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has increased the required age for one major platform to 16.

But, international agencies strike a more measured position. Unicef has warned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "could backfire". The organization points out that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for isolated children and that bans should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to prioritize safety.

As this global conversation evolves, the policies of this nation and several other countries demonstrate that governments around the world are increasingly willing to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.