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The Australian controversial move to restrict social media access for young people below 16 is sparking debate internationally. Lawmakers, campaigners, and parents are watching intently to see if this tactic will set a precedent for countries abroad.

The European Trend

In Europe, a growing chorus of nations are considering parallel measures.

• Denmark has stated a ban on social media for under-15s, with the PM stating that mobile devices and platforms are "stealing our kids' childhood". A law is expected to be passed next year.
• Norway is set to implement a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to protect the young from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• Ireland is introducing a digital wallet to confirm the user details of social media participants. Authorities have indicated that an Australian-model ban could be "an tools on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked the legislature to approve a law raising the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a similar move, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has urged families to block their children from social media up to the age of 15.

Across the European Union, the EU parliament has approved a advisory motion demanding a ban for under-16s without guardian approval is provided. While it warns of the "compulsive" design of these services, the step does not create binding law.

"An effective age barrier is a solid first step," stated one parliamentarian driving the measure.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Stance

In the UK, the leadership has remained open to a potential ban, stating that "no measure is being dismissed" but insisting any action must be "supported by conclusive data".

Previously, support gathered behind a bill to impose controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end modified. Nonetheless, the government vowed to investigate the matter.

Charities have raised warnings. An organization founded by the family of a young person who was lost after encountering disturbing social media material contends that a simple age ban might not improve online safety and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when young people become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a answer to the inability of the tech sector to build tools that are appropriate and fit for children," commented a leading online safety campaigner.

America: A Decentralized Picture

In the United States, regulation is primarily happening at the state level against a backdrop of national inaction.

• Utah mandates parental consent for under-18s to use social media and limits overnight use.
• Florida has enacted a bill barring those below 14 from accessing social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has passed a rule capping minors to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with extra use dependent on parental permission.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise introduced measures requiring adult authorization for under-16s to set up social media presences.

Even with bipartisan support and suggestions from various individuals to mimic the Australian lead, a nationwide ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.

International Perspectives

Outside of the West, other nations are likewise taking action.

• Malaysia aims to ban social media for teenagers effective next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has increased the required age for Instagram to 16.

However, world organizations strike a more nuanced position. The UN children's agency has advised that age-based restrictions have downsides and "might prove counterproductive". The agency notes that social networks can be a "critical link" for vulnerable children and that bans should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to improve user protection.

Even as this global debate evolves, the policies of the Australian government and several other countries indicate that states around the world are no longer willing to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.