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The Australian controversial policy to restrict social media access for young people below 16 is sparking debate internationally. Politicians, child protection groups, and guardians are observing intently to see if this approach will become a template for the rest of the world.

The European Trend

Throughout Europe, a growing number of countries are considering comparable restrictions.

• Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister stating that smartphones and apps are "stealing our kids' childhood". The policy could be formalized soon.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to enforce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard young people from the "power of the algorithms".
• Ireland is developing a digital ID system to authenticate the identity and age of social media users. The media minister have stated that an similar ban could be "one of the options on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged the legislature to pass a bill lifting the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a related move, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in The Netherlands has urged parents to block their children from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has approved a advisory motion demanding a ban for minors except if guardian approval is given. Even though it highlights of the "compulsive" nature of these services, the move does not establish binding law.

"A clear age restriction is a solid starting point," commented the European lawmaker behind the initiative.

Britain: A Watchful Eye

For the United Kingdom, the administration has remained open to a possible ban, emphasizing that "no measure is discarded" but maintaining any policy must be "based on conclusive data".

Last year, interest built behind a legislative effort to impose controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end modified. However, the administration committed to conduct more studies the issue.

Campaign organizations have voiced concerns. An organization founded by the family of a teenager who was lost after being exposed to harmful social media material argues that a simple age ban may not improve online safety and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of exposure when young people reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a response to the inability of the tech sector to create tools that are safe and fit for minors," stated a prominent online safety campaigner.

America: A State-by-State Picture

In the United States, regulation is largely occurring at the local government level against a backdrop of national stalemate.

• The state of Utah mandates parental consent for minors to use social media and controls late-night use.
• Florida has enacted a law prohibiting children under fourteen from joining social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• The state of Virginia has approved a law restricting minors to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with extra time dependent on parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise introduced measures demanding parental consent for under-16s to open social media accounts.

Despite cross-party agreement and proposals from various figures to mimic this lead, a US-wide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Perspectives

Apart from the West, additional countries are also considering moves.

• The Malaysian government intends to restrict social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, global bodies adopt a more nuanced tone. A major UN agency has cautioned that social media bans have downsides and "might prove counterproductive". The body highlights that the internet can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable children and that bans should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to improve child safeguards.

While this global discussion unfolds, the steps of Australia and its followers indicate that governments internationally are less and less prepared to delay for tech companies to make changes on their own.