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Australia's controversial action to prohibit social media access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and parents are monitoring closely to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.

European Movement

Across Europe, a increasing number of countries are moving toward similar bans.

• Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the leader stating that mobile devices and platforms are "robbing our children's innocence". Legislation may be formalized soon.
• Norway is preparing to implement a access barrier of 15, citing the need to protect young people from the "power of the algorithms".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to confirm the user details of social media account holders. Authorities have indicated that an similar ban is "an options in reserve".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged the legislature to approve a bill increasing the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has recommended a comparable action, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in The Dutch government has advised families to prevent their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has adopted a advisory motion demanding a ban for minors without parental consent is given. Even though it warns of the "addictive" quality of these services, the resolution does not establish enforceable legislation.

"A clear age limit is a good foundation," said the MEP behind the resolution.

The UK: A Cautious Approach

In the UK, the government has not ruled out a possible ban, stating that "no measure is being dismissed" but stressing any action must be "grounded in strong evidence".

Earlier, momentum built behind a bill to impose limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately watered down. Instead, the government committed to conduct more studies the matter.

Campaign organizations have expressed concerns. A prominent charity set up by the loved ones of a girl who died after viewing disturbing social media material argues that a simple age ban could fail to improve online safety and could lead to a "cliff edge" of exposure when young people reach the legal age.

"This ban is a response to the failure of the social media companies to create platforms and apps that are secure and age appropriate for young users," commented a prominent online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Fragmented Landscape

Stateside, action is mostly unfolding at the regional level amid national gridlock.

• The state of Utah mandates guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has passed a law barring those below 14 from joining social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has passed a law restricting minors to a single hour of social media access per day, with additional access dependent on a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced bills mandating parental consent for teenagers to create social media presences.

Despite cross-party agreement and proposals from some individuals to follow this path, a nationwide ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Outlook

Apart from the West, additional countries are similarly taking action.

• Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the access age for Instagram to 16.

However, international bodies strike a more nuanced position. The UN children's agency has warned that social media bans carry risks and "may even have unintended consequences". The organization notes that online platforms can be a "critical link" for marginalized young people and that government action should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to prioritize child safeguards.

While this global debate unfolds, the policies of the Australian government and its followers demonstrate that governments internationally are no longer content to delay for platforms to self-regulate.