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The Australian decisive policy to restrict social media access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples internationally. Officials, campaigners, and families are monitoring closely to see if this approach will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

European Momentum

Throughout Europe, a growing number of nations are considering parallel measures.

• The Danish government has announced a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister arguing that mobile devices and platforms are "taking away our children's innocence". The policy may be formalized next year.
• Norway is set to enforce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to shield young people from the "power of the AI".
• The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to confirm the age and identity of social media users. Officials have stated that an Australia-style ban is "a potential options on the table".
• In Spain, the leader has called on the legislature to pass a bill increasing the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has suggested a similar move, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in The Dutch government has recommended parents to restrict their children from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has passed a non-binding motion supporting a ban for under-16s except if guardian approval is granted. Even though it cautions of the "habit-forming" design of these platforms, the resolution does not establish binding law.

"A strong age restriction is a solid starting point," said the European lawmaker behind the measure.

Britain: A Cautious Stance

For the United Kingdom, the government has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "no option is off the table" but maintaining any action must be "based on robust research".

Earlier, support grew behind a proposal to enact limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually modified. However, the administration vowed to investigate the matter.

Advocacy groups have raised warnings. A prominent charity established by the relatives of a girl who took her own life after viewing harmful platform posts contends that a blanket age ban might not improve online safety and could create a "dangerous transition" of risk when users turn 16.

"The Australian ban is a response to the failure of the Silicon Valley to create tools that are appropriate and fit for young users," commented a prominent child protection advocate.

America: A Fragmented Landscape

In the United States, legislation is primarily occurring at the local level against a backdrop of national stalemate.

• Utah mandates adult approval for minors to use social media and limits overnight use.
• Florida has signed a bill barring those below 14 from accessing social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a law limiting teenagers to a single hour of social media use per day, with additional access requiring a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also introduced laws requiring parental consent for under-16s to create social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and suggestions from various politicians to follow this example, a nationwide ban is right now seen as improbable.

Worldwide Views

Beyond Europe and the US, additional states are likewise taking action.

• Malaysia intends to ban social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• Brazil has increased the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

However, international bodies take a more measured tone. The UN children's agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "may even backfire". The organization highlights that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable children and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to invest in user protection.

While this international conversation unfolds, the policies of Australia and several other countries demonstrate that policymakers internationally are no longer willing to delay for the industry to make changes on their own.