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The nation's bold move to restrict social media access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples internationally. Officials, safety advocates, and guardians are watching intently to see if this strategy will become a template for other nations.

European Trend

In Europe, a rising chorus of states are moving toward similar restrictions.

• The Danish government plans a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister stating that smartphones and networks are "stealing our youngsters' youth". Legislation is expected to be formalized in the coming year.
• Norway is preparing to implement a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to shield young people from the "power of the AI".
• The Irish government is introducing a digital ID system to verify the age and identity of social media account holders. Authorities have indicated that an Australian-model ban is "one of the tools under consideration".
• In Spain, the president has called on the legislature to pass a proposal lifting the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has endorsed a comparable move, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The administration in The Netherlands has recommended families to block their kids from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has passed a non-binding statement calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 without guardian approval is given. Even though it warns of the "compulsive" quality of these apps, the move does not create binding law.

"A clear age limit is a solid foundation," commented the European lawmaker supporting the measure.

Britain: A Cautious Eye

In the UK, the administration has kept open a future ban, arguing that "nothing is off the table" but insisting any policy must be "based on conclusive research".

Earlier, interest grew behind a legislative effort to introduce restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately weakened. Instead, the government vowed to conduct more studies the issue.

Campaign organizations have raised concerns. An organization established by the family of a young person who took her own life after encountering dangerous platform posts argues that a simple age ban might not make platforms safer and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of harm when young people turn 16.

"The Australian ban is a response to the inability of the tech sector to build platforms and apps that are appropriate and suitable for young users," commented a influential peer.

America: A Fragmented Picture

In the United States, regulation is primarily occurring at the regional level amid federal gridlock.

• The state of Utah demands guardian permission for minors to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• Florida has signed a measure banning those below 14 from accessing social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has enacted a rule limiting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with additional time dependent on a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted bills demanding parental consent for under-16s to open social media presences.

Despite widespread concern and proposals from some individuals to copy the Australian path, a federal ban is currently seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Perspectives

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

• Malaysia aims to ban social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• Brazil has lifted the access age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, global agencies take a more cautious stance. A major UN agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even backfire". The body points out that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable children and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to improve safety.

While this international discussion continues, the steps of the Australian government and others indicate that governments around the world are less and less content to stand by for platforms to make changes on their own.