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The Australian decisive move to ban social media access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples internationally. Officials, campaigners, and families are monitoring intently to see if this tactic will become a template for countries abroad.

European Movement

In Europe, a growing number of states are considering parallel bans.

• The Danish government has announced a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister declaring that mobile devices and platforms are "stealing our children's innocence". A law could be formalized soon.
• Norway is set to implement a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard children from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the identity and age of social media participants. Officials have suggested that an Australia-style ban could be "an measures on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked the legislature to enact a bill lifting the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has recommended a comparable action, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in the Netherlands has advised families to block their youngsters from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has passed a symbolic motion supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 without a parent decides otherwise is given. While it highlights of the "compulsive" design of these apps, the move does not establish binding law.

"An effective age restriction is a solid starting point," commented a leading parliamentarian driving the resolution.

The UK: A Watchful Eye

In the UK, the government has not ruled out a potential ban, arguing that "no option is off the table" but stressing any policy must be "based on conclusive data".

Last year, momentum built behind a proposal to introduce restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately watered down. Instead, the government committed to further research the issue.

Campaign organizations have raised warnings. One foundation founded by the family of a girl who died after encountering disturbing online content argues that a blanket age ban may not make platforms safer and could result in a "cliff edge" of harm when young people reach the legal age.

"This ban is a answer to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to build products and services that are appropriate and fit for children," stated a prominent online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Fragmented Landscape

Across America, regulation is primarily happening at the local level due to country-wide stalemate.

• Utah demands parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• The state of Florida has signed a measure prohibiting under-14s from accessing social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• Virginia has approved a regulation capping under-16s to one hour of social media time per day, with any further use needing a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed bills mandating parental consent for minors to set up social media accounts.

Despite cross-party agreement and calls from some politicians to mimic Australia's path, a nationwide ban is presently seen as improbable.

Worldwide Views

Outside of Europe and the US, other countries are similarly exploring options.

• The Malaysian government plans to prohibit social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
• Brazil has increased the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, international organizations strike a more nuanced tone. A major UN agency has advised that social media bans have downsides and "might prove counterproductive". The agency highlights that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for isolated youth and that bans should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to prioritize safety.

Even as this international conversation unfolds, the steps of this nation and several other countries demonstrate that states around the world are no longer prepared to delay for tech companies to make changes on their own.