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The nation's controversial action to restrict social networking access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and parents are observing closely to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

European Trend

In Europe, a growing chorus of states are considering similar restrictions.

• Denmark has announced a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister stating that phones and platforms are "taking away our kids' youth". The policy could be formalized next year.
• Norway is set to enforce a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard children from the "influence of the AI".
• Ireland is introducing a digital wallet to verify the identity and age of social media users. Authorities have suggested that an Australian-model ban is "an options under consideration".
• In Spain, the leader has urged parliament to enact a bill lifting the minimum age for joining 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 similar step, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The government in The Netherlands has advised guardians to restrict their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

Across the European Union, the EU parliament has adopted a non-binding resolution supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 without parental consent is provided. Even though it cautions of the "compulsive" nature of these apps, the move does not create mandatory rules.

"An effective age limit is a useful first step," said one parliamentarian driving the measure.

The UK: A Watchful Eye

Across Britain, the leadership has not ruled out a future ban, arguing that "nothing is being dismissed" but maintaining any policy must be "based on robust data".

Earlier, momentum grew behind a legislative effort to introduce limits on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately modified. However, the government vowed to further research the topic.

Charities have expressed apprehensions. An organization founded by the relatives of a teenager who was lost after being exposed to disturbing platform posts suggests that a strict age ban may not protect children and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when users become eligible.

"This ban is a reaction to the failure of the Silicon Valley to build tools that are secure and age appropriate for minors," commented a prominent online safety campaigner.

The US: A Decentralized Approach

In the United States, regulation is mostly unfolding at the state level amid federal gridlock.

• Utah requires adult approval for under-18s to use social media and controls late-night use.
• Florida has signed a bill barring children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has approved a law capping teenagers to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with extra use dependent on adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed measures mandating adult authorization for teenagers to create social media accounts.

Despite cross-party agreement and calls from some politicians to copy Australia's example, a federal ban is currently seen as improbable.

Global Views

Apart from the West, other nations are likewise taking action.

• Malaysia plans to restrict social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• Brazil has lifted the access age for Instagram to 16.

But, international agencies take a more cautious stance. The UN children's agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "might have unintended consequences". The organization points out that the internet can be a "critical link" for vulnerable youth and that government action should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to invest in child safeguards.

As this global discussion evolves, the policies of the Australian government and others demonstrate that policymakers internationally are no longer content to stand by for platforms to make changes on their own.