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The Australian decisive policy to prohibit social media access for young people below 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and parents are watching intently to see if this tactic will set a precedent for other nations.

Across Europe Movement

Throughout Europe, a rising group of states are moving toward parallel measures.

• The Danish government has announced a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the PM arguing that mobile devices and apps are "stealing our kids' childhood". The policy could be enacted soon.
• Norway is preparing to introduce a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to protect children from the "power of the AI".
• The Irish government is working on a online verification tool to verify the user details of social media users. The media minister have suggested that an similar ban remains "one of the measures in reserve".
• In Spain, the prime minister has called on the legislature to approve a law increasing the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a comparable action, including an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in the Netherlands has advised families to restrict their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has passed a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 except if guardian approval is granted. While it warns of the "compulsive" nature of these services, the resolution does not enact binding law.

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

Britain: A Watchful Stance

Across Britain, the administration has not ruled out a future ban, arguing that "nothing is discarded" but maintaining any decision must be "grounded in conclusive research".

Previously, interest built behind a proposal to impose controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually weakened. Nonetheless, the administration pledged to further research the matter.

Advocacy groups have voiced apprehensions. One foundation set up by the loved ones of a girl who took her own life after encountering harmful platform posts argues that a simple age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when young people reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a response to the inability of the social media companies to build platforms and apps that are secure and fit for minors," stated a leading peer.

The United States: A State-by-State Approach

Across America, legislation is largely unfolding at the regional government level amid national stalemate.

• The state of Utah mandates parental consent for under-18s to use social media and controls late-night use.
• Florida has passed a measure barring those below 14 from joining social media, though it faces court battles.
• The state of Virginia has approved a regulation capping under-16s to a single hour of social media use per day, with extra use requiring a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed bills requiring guardian approval for minors to create social media accounts.

Despite cross-party agreement and proposals from certain individuals to follow Australia's example, a federal ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Global Perspectives

Outside of the West, other states are likewise considering moves.

• The Malaysian government plans to ban social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• Brazil has increased the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, world organizations strike a more nuanced position. The UN children's agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "might prove counterproductive". The agency highlights that social networks can be a "lifeline" for isolated youth and that bans should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to prioritize user protection.

Even as this worldwide discussion unfolds, the actions of this nation and several other countries show that policymakers internationally are no longer prepared to delay for platforms to self-regulate.