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Australia's bold policy to restrict social media access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples worldwide. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and parents are observing intently to see if this tactic will become a template for other nations.

European Movement

In Europe, a increasing chorus of countries are exploring similar bans.

• Denmark plans a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister arguing that phones and platforms are "taking away our youngsters' youth". Legislation could be formalized next year.
• Norway is planning to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard children from the "power of the AI".
• Ireland is introducing a digital ID system to confirm the user details of social media participants. Authorities have indicated that an similar ban could be "a potential measures in reserve".
• In Spain, the president has urged the legislature to enact a proposal increasing the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a related step, including an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has advised families to prevent their children from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has adopted a non-binding motion demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 except if parental consent is provided. While it cautions of the "compulsive" design of these platforms, the move does not create mandatory rules.

"A clear age barrier is a useful starting point," commented one parliamentarian supporting the measure.

Britain: A Cautious Eye

In the UK, the government has not ruled out a future ban, emphasizing that "nothing is off the table" but insisting any action must be "based on strong research".

Previously, support built behind a legislative effort to introduce controls on social media use by minors, but it was in the end weakened. Nonetheless, the government pledged to further research the topic.

Advocacy groups have raised warnings. An organization founded by the relatives of a girl who was lost after viewing dangerous online content contends that a simple age ban might not protect children and could result in a "dangerous transition" of exposure when users turn 16.

"This ban is a answer to the failure of the Silicon Valley to build platforms and apps that are appropriate and suitable for minors," stated a leading child protection advocate.

The United States: A State-by-State Picture

In the United States, regulation is largely happening at the local government level due to country-wide inaction.

• Utah requires guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has signed a measure prohibiting children under fourteen from joining social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• Virginia has enacted a law limiting minors to a single hour of social media time per day, with extra use dependent on parental permission.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced laws mandating guardian approval for under-16s to open social media presences.

Even with widespread concern and calls from various politicians to follow Australia's path, a federal ban is presently seen as improbable.

Worldwide Outlook

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

• Malaysia aims to ban social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has increased the access age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, international organizations strike a more nuanced tone. The UN children's agency has advised that age-based restrictions have downsides and "might have unintended consequences". The agency highlights that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for marginalized youth and that government action should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to invest in safety.

Even as this international discussion evolves, the steps of this nation and several other countries demonstrate that governments internationally are no longer willing to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.