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The nation's bold action to ban social media access for those under 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Politicians, child protection groups, and parents are monitoring intently to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.

The European Momentum

Across Europe, a rising chorus of nations are exploring parallel measures.

• Denmark has stated a ban on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister declaring that smartphones and apps are "robbing our youngsters' childhood". Legislation could be enacted in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is set to enforce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to shield children from the "manipulative force of the AI".
• Ireland is developing a digital wallet to confirm the user details of social media participants. Officials have suggested that an similar ban could be "an options in reserve".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked lawmakers to approve a proposal lifting the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has endorsed a comparable move, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The government in the Netherlands has recommended parents to restrict their youngsters from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has passed a non-binding resolution demanding a ban for minors unless parental consent is granted. While it highlights of the "compulsive" nature of these platforms, the resolution does not enact enforceable legislation.

"A clear age limit is a solid first step," stated the European lawmaker driving the resolution.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Stance

In the UK, the leadership has remained open to a possible ban, stating that "no option is being dismissed" but maintaining any decision must be "based on strong data".

Earlier, momentum built behind a legislative effort to enact restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end weakened. Nonetheless, the government vowed to conduct more studies the issue.

Campaign organizations have voiced warnings. An organization founded by the loved ones of a young person who took her own life after encountering dangerous online content argues that a simple age ban could fail to protect children and could lead to a "cliff edge" of risk when teens turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the failure of the tech sector to build platforms and apps that are appropriate and suitable for children," stated a prominent online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Decentralized Approach

In the United States, regulation is mostly happening at the regional level amid national inaction.

• The state of Utah mandates adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and limits late-night use.
• Florida has enacted a measure banning those below 14 from joining social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has passed a regulation capping teenagers to one hour of social media time per day, with extra time needing a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise introduced laws mandating parental consent for minors to open social media accounts.

Despite cross-party agreement and proposals from certain politicians to copy the Australian lead, a nationwide ban is presently seen as improbable.

Global Outlook

Beyond these regions, further countries are also exploring options.

• Malaysia plans to restrict social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• Brazil has lifted the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, international agencies take a more cautious tone. The UN children's agency has advised that age-based restrictions have downsides and "could prove counterproductive". The body highlights that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for isolated children and that bans should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to prioritize safety.

While this global debate continues, the policies of Australia and several other countries indicate that policymakers internationally are less and less willing to stand by for the industry to self-regulate.