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The Australian controversial action to restrict social media access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and guardians are observing with great interest to see if this tactic will set a precedent for other nations.

Across Europe Movement

In Europe, a growing chorus of states are moving toward parallel restrictions.

• The Danish government plans a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the PM declaring that phones and platforms are "stealing our kids' innocence". A law may be formalized in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is set to enforce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to safeguard the young from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is working on a digital ID system to confirm the user details of social media account holders. The media minister have suggested that an similar ban remains "a potential tools on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has called on parliament to pass a proposal increasing the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has endorsed a comparable step, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in The Netherlands has recommended 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 advisory motion supporting a ban for minors without guardian approval is provided. While it highlights of the "addictive" design of these platforms, the step does not enact mandatory rules.

"An effective age restriction is a useful starting point," said a leading parliamentarian driving the initiative.

The United Kingdom: A Watchful Approach

In the UK, the leadership has remained open to a potential ban, emphasizing that "no measure is discarded" but insisting any action must be "supported by conclusive research".

Last year, momentum gathered behind a proposal to enact restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately watered down. Instead, the government pledged to conduct more studies the topic.

Advocacy groups have voiced apprehensions. One foundation founded by the loved ones of a young person who took her own life after viewing harmful platform posts suggests that a strict age ban may not make platforms safer and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when teens reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a response to the failure of the Silicon Valley to build tools that are appropriate and suitable for minors," commented a influential online safety campaigner.

America: A State-by-State Picture

In the United States, legislation is mostly occurring at the regional level due to national gridlock.

• Utah demands guardian permission for minors to use social media and controls overnight use.
• Florida has passed a measure barring children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has passed a rule limiting minors to a single hour of social media time per day, with any further access requiring a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise enacted laws mandating adult authorization for minors to set up social media accounts.

Even with widespread concern and proposals from various politicians to follow Australia's lead, a nationwide ban is presently seen as unlikely.

International Outlook

Apart from Europe and the US, other countries are similarly considering moves.

• Malaysia intends to ban social media for under-16s effective next year.
• Brazil has increased the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, world organizations adopt a more cautious stance. A major UN agency has warned that social media bans have downsides and "might backfire". The body notes that social networks can be a "critical link" for vulnerable young people and that government action should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to invest in user protection.

Even as this international debate unfolds, the steps of Australia and its followers demonstrate that policymakers globally are less and less content to delay for platforms to self-regulate.