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Australia's decisive policy to ban social media access for young people below 16 is sparking debate worldwide. Politicians, safety advocates, and families are watching closely to see if this approach will become a template for countries abroad.

The European Trend

Across Europe, a growing number of states are exploring parallel restrictions.

• The Danish government plans a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader declaring that mobile devices and networks are "taking away our kids' childhood". The policy may be enacted next year.
• Norway is planning to implement a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to shield the young from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is developing a digital ID system to confirm the age and identity of social media users. Authorities have suggested that an similar ban is "one of the options under consideration".
• In Spain, the leader has asked lawmakers to pass a proposal lifting the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a related move, including an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The administration in The Dutch government has recommended guardians to block their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has approved a symbolic motion supporting a ban for minors unless parental consent is given. Even though it highlights of the "habit-forming" quality of these services, the step does not create binding law.

"A strong age restriction is a useful starting point," said one MEP driving the measure.

The United Kingdom: A Watchful Stance

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has remained open to a future ban, arguing that "no option is off the table" but maintaining any decision must be "supported by robust data".

Previously, support gathered behind a legislative effort to enact restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end watered down. Instead, the government vowed to investigate the issue.

Charities have expressed apprehensions. An organization founded by the loved ones of a young person who was lost after being exposed to dangerous platform posts contends that a strict age ban may not make platforms safer and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of exposure when users reach the legal age.

"This ban is a response to the inability of the social media companies to design platforms and apps that are secure and age appropriate for minors," said a prominent peer.

America: A Fragmented Approach

In the United States, action is mostly unfolding at the state level against a backdrop of federal gridlock.

• Utah demands adult approval for under-18s to use social media and restricts late-night use.
• Florida has enacted a bill barring those below 14 from accessing social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has enacted a regulation capping under-16s to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with additional use dependent on a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed measures requiring guardian approval for under-16s to create social media accounts.

Despite bipartisan support and suggestions from some politicians to copy this example, a US-wide ban is right now seen as improbable.

Global Outlook

Outside of Europe and the US, other countries are likewise considering moves.

• Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the required age for one major platform to 16.

However, world bodies strike a more measured stance. The UN children's agency has advised that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even prove counterproductive". The body notes that the internet can be a "critical link" for isolated youth and that government action should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to prioritize user protection.

While this international debate unfolds, the actions of this nation and others show that governments around the world are less and less willing to wait for tech companies to act voluntarily.