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Australia's bold move to restrict social media access for young people below 16 is sparking debate internationally. Officials, campaigners, and parents are watching with great interest to see if this tactic will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Trend

Throughout Europe, a increasing group of countries are considering similar restrictions.

• The Danish government has stated a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister stating that phones and apps are "robbing our kids' youth". The policy may be enacted next year.
• Norway is planning to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to safeguard the young from the "power of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is working on a digital wallet to verify the identity and age of social media account holders. The media minister have indicated that an similar ban could be "an options under consideration".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked lawmakers to approve a proposal raising the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has endorsed a related move, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The government in The Dutch government has urged guardians to block their kids from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has passed a non-binding motion supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 except if a parent decides otherwise is given. While it warns of the "habit-forming" quality of these services, the resolution does not enact mandatory rules.

"An effective age limit is a useful starting point," said one European lawmaker behind the measure.

The UK: A Cautious Eye

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "no measure is discarded" but insisting any action must be "based on robust data".

Previously, interest gathered behind a legislative effort to enact controls on social media use by minors, but it was in the end modified. However, the government vowed to further research the issue.

Advocacy groups have raised warnings. An organization set up by the family of a young person who took her own life after viewing dangerous social media material contends that a strict age ban could fail to protect children and could lead to a "cliff edge" of exposure when users reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a response to the refusal of the tech sector to build products and services that are secure and fit for minors," said a prominent peer.

The US: A Fragmented Approach

In the United States, legislation is largely unfolding at the regional level amid country-wide gridlock.

• Utah demands adult approval for minors to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has passed a bill barring children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• Virginia has approved a rule restricting minors to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with extra time dependent on adult consent.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed measures mandating parental consent for under-16s to create social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and proposals from certain figures to mimic this example, a nationwide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Perspectives

Apart from these regions, other states are also taking action.

• The Malaysian government intends to prohibit social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the access age for one major platform to 16.

But, international organizations take a more cautious tone. A major UN agency has warned that social media bans have downsides and "could prove counterproductive". The agency highlights that the internet can be a "critical link" for isolated children and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to prioritize user protection.

While this international conversation continues, the steps of the Australian government and its followers show that states globally are increasingly prepared to wait for tech companies to act voluntarily.