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The Australian bold policy to ban social media access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Lawmakers, campaigners, and guardians are monitoring intently to see if this strategy will set a precedent for other nations.

The European Movement

In Europe, a rising chorus of nations are moving toward parallel restrictions.

• Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the PM declaring that mobile devices and apps are "stealing our kids' childhood". The policy is expected to be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is planning to introduce a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to shield the young from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to confirm the age and identity of social media account holders. The media minister have stated that an Australian-model ban remains "a potential tools on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged the legislature to enact a proposal lifting the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has suggested a comparable action, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The government in The Netherlands has advised families to prevent their children from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has passed a advisory motion supporting a ban for minors unless a parent decides otherwise is granted. While it warns of the "addictive" design of these services, the move does not enact mandatory rules.

"An effective age limit is a good starting point," stated one parliamentarian behind the measure.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Eye

For the United Kingdom, the administration has not ruled out a possible ban, stating that "no measure is being dismissed" but maintaining any action must be "grounded in robust research".

Earlier, interest grew behind a bill to enact restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was in the end modified. Instead, the administration vowed to investigate the issue.

Charities have expressed warnings. One foundation founded by the relatives of a girl who took her own life after being exposed to harmful online content argues that a simple age ban may not improve online safety and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of exposure when teens become eligible.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the inability of the social media companies to design products and services that are safe and suitable for children," said a influential peer.

The United States: A Decentralized Landscape

Stateside, legislation is primarily unfolding at the state government level amid country-wide gridlock.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for minors to use social media and limits late-night use.
• Florida has enacted a law banning children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has passed a regulation restricting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with extra use requiring adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly introduced laws demanding parental consent for under-16s to set up social media accounts.

Despite cross-party agreement and suggestions from certain politicians to follow this path, a nationwide ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Perspectives

Beyond Europe and the US, other nations are likewise considering moves.

• The Malaysian government intends to ban social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• Brazil has raised the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, international organizations strike a more cautious position. The UN children's agency has advised that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "might have unintended consequences". The body points out that the internet can be a "critical link" for marginalized youth and that government action should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to prioritize child safeguards.

Even as this worldwide debate evolves, the steps of Australia and its followers show that policymakers internationally are less and less prepared to stand by for tech companies to make changes on their own.