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The nation's decisive action to prohibit social media access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Officials, safety advocates, and parents are observing with great interest to see if this approach will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

European Trend

Throughout Europe, a increasing group of states are considering parallel bans.

• Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM declaring that smartphones and apps are "taking away our youngsters' childhood". A law could be enacted in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is set to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to safeguard the young from the "manipulative force of the AI".
• Ireland is developing a digital wallet to verify the user details of social media account holders. Officials have stated that an Australia-style ban could be "an tools in reserve".
• In Spain, the prime minister has called on the legislature to approve a law raising the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has suggested a comparable move, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in The Netherlands has advised guardians to restrict their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has adopted a symbolic motion demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 except if parental consent is given. While it highlights of the "addictive" nature of these platforms, the resolution does not establish binding law.

"A strong age barrier is a good foundation," commented one parliamentarian behind the resolution.

Britain: A Watchful Stance

In the UK, the administration has remained open to a possible ban, emphasizing that "no measure is discarded" but insisting any decision must be "based on robust data".

Earlier, support built behind a legislative effort to impose controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately watered down. Instead, the government pledged to conduct more studies the matter.

Advocacy groups have raised apprehensions. A prominent charity established by the loved ones of a girl who took her own life after encountering dangerous social media material argues that a blanket age ban could fail to improve online safety and could create a "dangerous transition" of exposure when teens become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a response to the inability of the social media companies to create tools that are safe and suitable for children," commented a prominent peer.

The US: A Fragmented Landscape

Stateside, legislation is mostly occurring at the state government level due to federal gridlock.

• Utah demands parental consent for minors to use social media and limits late-night use.
• Florida has enacted a law banning children under fourteen from joining social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has approved a law limiting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with any further use dependent on a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed measures demanding adult authorization for under-16s to create social media profiles.

Even with widespread concern and suggestions from various individuals to mimic this path, a nationwide ban is presently seen as improbable.

Global Outlook

Beyond these regions, further nations are similarly exploring options.

• The Malaysian government intends to ban social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• Brazil has lifted the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

Yet, international agencies adopt a more measured position. A major UN agency has warned that social media bans have downsides and "could backfire". The body notes that online platforms can be a "critical link" for vulnerable children and that bans should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to improve safety.

While this global discussion unfolds, the steps of Australia and others demonstrate that states around the world are increasingly prepared to stand by for tech companies to self-regulate.