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The nation's bold action to ban social media access for those under 16 is sparking debate around the globe. Politicians, safety advocates, and families are observing intently to see if this tactic will set a precedent for countries abroad.

European Trend

Across Europe, a rising number of nations are exploring comparable restrictions.

• The Danish government plans a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader declaring that mobile devices and apps are "taking away our children's youth". Legislation is expected to be passed in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is planning to introduce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to safeguard the young from the "manipulative force of the AI".
• Ireland is working on a digital ID system to authenticate the user details of social media account holders. The media minister have indicated that an Australia-style ban is "a potential tools on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has urged the legislature to enact a law increasing the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a related action, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in the Netherlands has recommended parents to prevent their children from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has approved a advisory resolution calling for a ban for minors unless guardian approval is granted. Although it cautions of the "compulsive" design of these platforms, the resolution does not establish binding law.

"A clear age limit is a useful starting point," stated a leading parliamentarian supporting the resolution.

Britain: A Cautious Approach

Across Britain, the leadership has kept open a future ban, stating that "nothing is off the table" but maintaining any policy must be "supported by robust research".

Last year, momentum grew behind a legislative effort to impose limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end watered down. Nonetheless, the administration vowed to conduct more studies the issue.

Campaign organizations have expressed warnings. A prominent charity set up by the loved ones of a young person who died after being exposed to dangerous platform posts argues that a simple age ban might not improve online safety and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of exposure when teens become eligible.

"This ban is a reaction to the inability of the tech sector to design products and services that are appropriate and age appropriate for minors," commented a leading child protection advocate.

America: A Decentralized Approach

Stateside, regulation is primarily happening at the local level due to federal gridlock.

• The state of Utah mandates parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and controls overnight use.
• The state of Florida has signed a law barring those below 14 from accessing social media, though it faces court battles.
• Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting minors to a single hour of social media access per day, with extra use dependent on parental permission.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed measures mandating guardian approval for under-16s to open social media profiles.

Even with bipartisan support and calls from certain individuals to copy the Australian path, a nationwide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Global Views

Apart from these regions, additional nations are likewise taking action.

• The Malaysian government plans to ban social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has lifted the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, international bodies strike a more measured stance. Unicef has warned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "could prove counterproductive". The organization highlights that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable youth and that bans should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to invest in user protection.

While this worldwide discussion evolves, the policies of the Australian government and its followers demonstrate that governments internationally are less and less willing to stand by for the industry to make changes on their own.