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Australia's decisive action to prohibit social media access for young people below 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Politicians, campaigners, and guardians are watching closely to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.

The European Momentum

Across Europe, a rising chorus of nations are exploring comparable restrictions.

• Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister declaring that smartphones and apps are "stealing our kids' childhood". A law could be formalized soon.
• Norway is set to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to protect young people from the "influence of the algorithms".
• Ireland is working on a digital ID system to authenticate the identity and age of social media users. Authorities have suggested that an similar ban remains "an measures in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has urged parliament to pass a law increasing the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has endorsed a comparable move, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in The Dutch government has recommended parents to block their children from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the EU parliament has adopted a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for under-16s unless guardian approval is provided. While it warns of the "habit-forming" quality of these apps, the move does not create binding law.

"An effective age barrier is a useful foundation," said a leading MEP supporting the measure.

Britain: A Cautious Eye

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has remained open to a potential ban, arguing that "no measure is off the table" but insisting any policy must be "supported by robust research".

Last year, interest grew behind a proposal to enact limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually modified. Instead, the administration pledged to investigate the topic.

Advocacy groups have expressed apprehensions. One foundation founded by the loved ones of a girl who took her own life after being exposed to dangerous online content argues that a simple age ban may not make platforms safer and could lead to a "cliff edge" of harm when users become eligible.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to build platforms and apps that are appropriate and age appropriate for children," stated a influential child protection advocate.

America: A State-by-State Picture

Across America, regulation is mostly unfolding at the state government level due to country-wide inaction.

• Utah demands adult approval for minors to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• Florida has signed a measure barring under-14s from accessing social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• Virginia has enacted a law restricting minors to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with additional access requiring adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed laws demanding parental consent for under-16s to open social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and suggestions from various politicians to mimic the Australian lead, a US-wide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Perspectives

Outside of Europe and the US, other countries are also considering moves.

• The Malaysian government aims to restrict social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• Brazil has increased the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, global bodies adopt a more cautious tone. A major UN agency has advised that social media bans pose dangers and "may even prove counterproductive". The agency notes that social networks can be a "lifeline" for marginalized children and that bans should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to prioritize user protection.

As this worldwide debate unfolds, the actions of this nation and others indicate that policymakers internationally are no longer content to delay for the industry to act voluntarily.