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The nation's decisive policy to ban social media access for young people below 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Politicians, child protection groups, and guardians are monitoring closely to see if this strategy will set a precedent for countries abroad.

European Trend

In Europe, a rising chorus of states are considering comparable restrictions.

• The Danish government plans a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the PM stating that mobile devices and networks are "taking away our children's innocence". A law could be passed soon.
• Norway is planning to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard young people from the "power of the algorithms".
• Ireland is working on a online verification tool to verify the identity and age of social media account holders. Officials have stated that an Australian-model ban remains "one of the tools on the table".
• In Spain, the president has called on the legislature to enact a law lifting the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has recommended a comparable action, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The government in The Netherlands has advised families to block their youngsters from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has approved a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for minors unless guardian approval is granted. Even though it highlights of the "compulsive" design of these services, the resolution does not create binding law.

"A strong age barrier is a useful foundation," said a leading MEP supporting the initiative.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Approach

In the UK, the administration has kept open a future ban, stating that "no measure is discarded" but insisting any decision must be "supported by robust evidence".

Last year, interest grew behind a bill to introduce limits on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately watered down. Instead, the government vowed to conduct more studies the issue.

Advocacy groups have raised apprehensions. A prominent charity set up by the loved ones of a young person who took her own life after being exposed to disturbing social media material suggests that a strict age ban might not improve online safety and could create a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when young people turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to create products and services that are safe and suitable for children," stated a prominent child protection advocate.

The US: A State-by-State Picture

In the United States, regulation is mostly unfolding at the local level against a backdrop of country-wide stalemate.

• Utah requires guardian permission for minors to use social media and controls late-night use.
• Florida has enacted a bill prohibiting children under fourteen from joining social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• Virginia has passed a law restricting minors to a single hour of social media use per day, with any further access needing a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted laws requiring adult authorization for minors to create social media profiles.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from some individuals to copy this path, a US-wide ban is presently seen as unlikely.

International Outlook

Outside of these regions, other countries are also exploring options.

• The Malaysian government plans to prohibit social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• Brazil has lifted the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

Yet, international bodies adopt a more measured stance. A major UN agency has advised that age-based restrictions carry risks and "could backfire". The body notes that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for marginalized young people and that bans should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to improve child safeguards.

While this global discussion evolves, the steps of Australia and several other countries indicate that governments internationally are increasingly willing to delay for platforms to act voluntarily.