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The nation's controversial action to prohibit social media access for those under 16 is sparking debate worldwide. Politicians, safety advocates, and guardians are observing closely to see if this approach will become a template for countries abroad.

The European Movement

Across Europe, a growing number of states are considering similar measures.

• The Danish government has announced a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister stating that phones and apps are "taking away our children's youth". Legislation is expected to be formalized soon.
• Norway is planning to enforce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to protect children from the "power of the AI".
• Ireland is developing a digital wallet to verify the user details of social media participants. Officials have suggested that an Australia-style ban could be "an options on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has called on the legislature to enact a bill lifting the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has suggested a related step, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in the Netherlands has advised parents to restrict their children from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the EU parliament has passed a symbolic motion calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 without parental consent is granted. Although it warns of the "habit-forming" design of these apps, the resolution does not create mandatory rules.

"An effective age barrier is a solid foundation," commented a leading parliamentarian behind the resolution.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Stance

In the UK, the government has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "nothing is off the table" but maintaining any policy must be "grounded in conclusive data".

Last year, momentum built behind a proposal to impose limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually weakened. However, the administration pledged to investigate the issue.

Campaign organizations have raised concerns. One foundation set up by the loved ones of a teenager who died after viewing harmful online content argues that a blanket age ban could fail to improve online safety and could create a "cliff edge" of exposure when teens reach the legal age.

"This ban is a answer to the inability of the Silicon Valley to build platforms and apps that are secure and age appropriate for minors," commented a influential online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Decentralized Landscape

Across America, legislation is primarily occurring at the local level due to federal stalemate.

• Utah demands guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and controls late-night use.
• Florida has passed a measure barring children under fourteen from joining social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has passed a regulation capping minors to one hour of social media use per day, with any further time requiring adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed measures mandating adult authorization for teenagers to create social media profiles.

Even with bipartisan support and proposals from various individuals to copy the Australian lead, a federal ban is right now seen as improbable.

International Perspectives

Apart from these regions, additional countries are also exploring options.

• The Malaysian government aims to restrict social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the access age for one major platform to 16.

Yet, global agencies strike a more nuanced position. The UN children's agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "might have unintended consequences". The agency notes that online platforms can be a "critical link" for vulnerable youth and that government action should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to improve user protection.

As this global discussion evolves, the actions of Australia and its followers indicate that states around the world are increasingly willing to delay for platforms to make changes on their own.