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Australia's controversial action to restrict social media access for young people below 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Officials, safety advocates, and guardians are monitoring intently to see if this strategy will set a precedent for other nations.

European Momentum

In Europe, a increasing number of countries are exploring similar restrictions.

• The Danish government has stated a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader declaring that mobile devices and apps are "stealing our children's youth". A law could be formalized soon.
• Norway is planning to implement a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to shield the young from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is developing a digital wallet to verify the identity and age of social media participants. The media minister have stated that an Australian-model ban is "an tools on the table".
• In Spain, the president has called on lawmakers to enact a law raising the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a similar move, including an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has advised parents to prevent their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has approved a non-binding motion supporting a ban for minors without parental consent is granted. Even though it warns of the "compulsive" quality of these services, the move does not enact enforceable legislation.

"A clear age barrier is a solid first step," said the MEP driving the resolution.

The United Kingdom: A Watchful Stance

Across Britain, the administration has kept open a future ban, arguing that "nothing is being dismissed" but maintaining any action must be "grounded in strong evidence".

Previously, momentum grew behind a legislative effort to introduce restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately modified. Nonetheless, the administration committed to further research the topic.

Charities have expressed apprehensions. A prominent charity set up by the loved ones of a young person who was lost after encountering disturbing online content argues that a blanket age ban could fail to protect children and could create a "cliff edge" of harm when teens reach the legal age.

"This ban is a response to the inability of the social media companies to design platforms and apps that are safe and fit for children," said a influential online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Fragmented Approach

In the United States, action is mostly occurring at the state level due to national gridlock.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and limits overnight use.
• Florida has passed a measure prohibiting those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has approved a law capping teenagers to one hour of social media use per day, with any further access dependent on a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced laws demanding parental consent for teenagers to set up social media presences.

Even with cross-party agreement and calls from some figures to follow this path, a federal ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Global Outlook

Apart from these regions, further countries are similarly exploring options.

• Malaysia plans to restrict social media for under-16s effective next year.
• Brazil has lifted the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, global agencies strike a more cautious tone. The UN children's agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "could backfire". The body notes that social networks can be a "lifeline" for isolated youth and that government action should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to improve user protection.

Even as this global conversation evolves, the actions of this nation and others indicate that governments internationally are less and less content to stand by for the industry to make changes on their own.