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The Australian controversial move to restrict social platforms access for young people below 16 is sparking debate worldwide. Officials, campaigners, and parents are monitoring intently to see if this approach will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

The European Trend

Across Europe, a rising chorus of states are moving toward parallel measures.

• Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister stating that phones and apps are "stealing our kids' innocence". The policy is expected to be enacted in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to implement a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard children from the "power of the AI".
• Ireland is introducing a digital wallet to confirm the age and identity of social media participants. The media minister have stated that an Australia-style ban is "a potential tools under consideration".
• In Spain, the president has asked lawmakers to approve a bill raising the access age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has suggested a related action, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has recommended families to prevent their kids from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has adopted a non-binding motion supporting a ban for under-16s except if a parent decides otherwise is granted. While it cautions of the "addictive" nature of these apps, the resolution does not enact binding law.

"A strong age barrier is a useful starting point," said the parliamentarian behind the resolution.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Eye

Across Britain, the government has not ruled out a possible ban, arguing that "no measure is discarded" but stressing any decision must be "grounded in strong evidence".

Earlier, momentum grew behind a legislative effort to introduce restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was in the end weakened. However, the government committed to further research the topic.

Campaign organizations have raised apprehensions. A prominent charity founded by the relatives of a teenager who died after being exposed to dangerous social media material argues that a strict age ban may not protect children and could create a "cliff edge" of exposure when young people become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the inability of the Silicon Valley to design tools that are safe and suitable for children," commented a prominent child protection advocate.

America: A State-by-State Approach

Stateside, regulation is mostly happening at the regional level amid national gridlock.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• The state of Florida has passed a bill prohibiting those below 14 from accessing social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• Virginia has passed a rule restricting under-16s to a single hour of social media use per day, with any further use dependent on parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed measures demanding adult authorization for under-16s to open social media presences.

Despite bipartisan support and proposals from some individuals to follow this lead, a US-wide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

Global Views

Outside of Europe and the US, additional nations are also considering moves.

• Malaysia aims to ban social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, global agencies take a more measured tone. A major UN agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even backfire". The agency points out that social networks can be a "vital connection" for marginalized youth and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to prioritize user protection.

Even as this global discussion unfolds, the steps of the Australian government and others show that governments globally are increasingly content to wait for tech companies to self-regulate.