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The Australian bold policy to ban social media access for young people below 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Lawmakers, campaigners, and families are observing intently to see if this strategy will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

European Movement

Throughout Europe, a growing group of states are considering comparable measures.

• Denmark has announced a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the PM declaring that smartphones and platforms are "taking away our kids' innocence". The policy may be passed next year.
• Norway is preparing to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard young people from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is working on a digital wallet to verify the identity and age of social media users. Officials have suggested that an similar ban remains "a potential tools in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has urged the legislature to pass a law raising the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the president has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a comparable step, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has advised families to restrict their children from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has adopted a symbolic statement demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 unless parental consent is given. Although it warns of the "compulsive" nature of these services, the resolution does not enact enforceable legislation.

"An effective age restriction is a useful first step," stated one parliamentarian behind the initiative.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has kept open a possible ban, arguing that "no option is discarded" but insisting any decision must be "supported by strong evidence".

Last year, interest grew behind a legislative effort to introduce restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually weakened. However, the government committed to conduct more studies the topic.

Charities have raised concerns. A prominent charity founded by the family of a teenager who died after viewing dangerous social media material suggests that a blanket age ban might not improve online safety and could create a "sudden drop-off" of harm when teens turn 16.

"The Australian ban is a response to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to create tools that are safe and suitable for young users," said a prominent online safety campaigner.

America: A Fragmented Landscape

Across America, action is largely happening at the state government level against a backdrop of country-wide inaction.

• The state of Utah mandates guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and controls overnight use.
• The state of Florida has passed a bill banning under-14s from accessing social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has approved a regulation capping teenagers to one hour of social media time per day, with additional use requiring parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced laws mandating guardian approval for teenagers to create social media presences.

Even with cross-party agreement and calls from some figures to follow Australia's example, a nationwide ban is presently seen as unlikely.

International Perspectives

Beyond Europe and the US, additional nations are also exploring options.

• Malaysia intends to ban social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the required age for Instagram to 16.

However, global bodies adopt a more nuanced tone. The UN children's agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "may even prove counterproductive". The agency notes that the internet can be a "vital connection" for isolated youth and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to improve child safeguards.

As this global debate continues, the policies of the Australian government and others show that policymakers globally are increasingly prepared to stand by for tech companies to make changes on their own.