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The Australian decisive action to ban social media access for those under 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Politicians, safety advocates, and guardians are monitoring with great interest to see if this approach will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

European Trend

Across Europe, a rising group of states are considering similar restrictions.

• The Danish government has announced a ban on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister arguing that phones and apps are "taking away our children's youth". Legislation may be enacted in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to protect young people from the "influence of the algorithms".
• Ireland is developing a digital wallet to confirm the age and identity of social media users. The media minister have indicated that an Australian-model ban is "one of the tools on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged lawmakers to pass a law increasing the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has suggested a similar step, including an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has advised parents to block their kids from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has approved a symbolic resolution demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 without a parent decides otherwise is given. While it cautions of the "compulsive" nature of these platforms, the resolution does not establish enforceable legislation.

"A clear age barrier is a good foundation," said one European lawmaker supporting the resolution.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Approach

Across Britain, the government has kept open a future ban, arguing that "nothing is off the table" but maintaining any policy must be "grounded in conclusive data".

Previously, momentum gathered behind a proposal to impose controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end modified. However, the government committed to further research the issue.

Campaign organizations have voiced concerns. One foundation established by the loved ones of a young person who was lost after encountering dangerous platform posts argues that a simple age ban could fail to protect children and could create a "dangerous transition" of exposure when teens become eligible.

"Australia's ban is a response to the failure of the Silicon Valley to design products and services that are secure and suitable for children," said a influential online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Fragmented Picture

In the United States, action is primarily occurring at the local government level due to national gridlock.

• The state of Utah requires guardian permission for minors to use social media and limits late-night use.
• Florida has passed a measure banning under-14s from accessing social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting minors to a single hour of social media access per day, with additional access requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also introduced laws mandating adult authorization for minors to create social media presences.

Even with widespread concern and suggestions from some figures to follow the Australian path, a federal ban is right now seen as improbable.

Global Outlook

Apart from Europe and the US, further nations are similarly taking action.

• Malaysia intends to ban social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• Brazil has lifted the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

But, global bodies adopt a more measured stance. Unicef has cautioned that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "could have unintended consequences". The agency highlights that social networks can be a "vital connection" for isolated children and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to improve child safeguards.

Even as this worldwide debate unfolds, the policies of this nation and others show that policymakers around the world are increasingly prepared to stand by for platforms to act voluntarily.