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Australia's decisive action to prohibit social media access for those under 16 is sending ripples internationally. Politicians, child protection groups, and families are monitoring with great interest to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.

European Trend

In Europe, a growing number of nations are moving toward similar restrictions.

• The Danish government plans a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the PM stating that phones and apps are "stealing our kids' childhood". Legislation could be formalized soon.
• Norway is planning to implement a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to protect young people from the "manipulative force of the AI".
• The Irish government is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the user details of social media account holders. The media minister have stated that an Australian-model ban could be "one of the measures under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the president has urged the legislature to enact a proposal raising the minimum age for using 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 action, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has recommended guardians to block their children from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has approved a symbolic resolution supporting a ban for under-16s unless parental consent is given. Even though it highlights of the "compulsive" design of these platforms, the resolution does not establish binding law.

"A strong age restriction is a solid first step," stated a leading MEP driving the resolution.

Britain: A Watchful Stance

For the United Kingdom, the administration has not ruled out a potential ban, emphasizing that "nothing is discarded" but insisting any policy must be "supported by robust research".

Last year, interest built behind a proposal to introduce controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end watered down. However, the government pledged to further research the issue.

Campaign organizations have voiced concerns. An organization established by the family of a girl who was lost after viewing disturbing platform posts suggests that a strict age ban may not make platforms safer and could lead to a "cliff edge" of exposure when users reach the legal age.

"This ban is a answer to the failure of the Silicon Valley to build tools that are safe and suitable for young users," commented a prominent child protection advocate.

The United States: A Fragmented Picture

Stateside, regulation is primarily occurring at the local level against a backdrop of country-wide inaction.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• Florida has signed a measure prohibiting under-14s from joining social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• Virginia has enacted a law restricting minors to a single hour of social media access per day, with additional time requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed measures mandating adult authorization for teenagers to open social media presences.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from some politicians to follow the Australian path, a nationwide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Global Outlook

Beyond these regions, further nations are also considering moves.

• The Malaysian government intends to ban social media for teenagers effective next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has lifted the access age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, global bodies take a more measured tone. A major UN agency has advised that social media bans carry risks and "might backfire". The organization highlights that social networks can be a "lifeline" for marginalized youth and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to prioritize child safeguards.

While this global debate unfolds, the steps of this nation and several other countries indicate that governments around the world are no longer prepared to stand by for platforms to act voluntarily.