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The Australian bold policy to prohibit social media access for those under 16 is sparking debate worldwide. Officials, campaigners, and parents are observing closely to see if this approach will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

The European Trend

In Europe, a growing group of countries are moving toward similar bans.

• The Danish government plans a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister stating that phones and networks are "stealing our kids' childhood". A law is expected to be passed soon.
• Norway is preparing to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard the young from the "power of the AI".
• The Irish government is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the user details of social media participants. The media minister have suggested that an Australian-model ban remains "a potential tools on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has called on the legislature to approve a law raising the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has suggested a related action, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The administration in The Netherlands has advised guardians to prevent their children from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has adopted a advisory statement calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 without a parent decides otherwise is granted. While it warns of the "addictive" quality of these apps, the step does not establish enforceable legislation.

"An effective age barrier is a useful starting point," said the parliamentarian driving the measure.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Approach

For the United Kingdom, the government has remained open to a possible ban, emphasizing that "no measure is being dismissed" but insisting any action must be "supported by robust research".

Last year, support gathered behind a legislative effort to enact restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was eventually watered down. Instead, the administration pledged to further research the issue.

Advocacy groups have expressed apprehensions. An organization founded by the family of a young person who took her own life after encountering harmful platform posts suggests that a simple age ban may not improve online safety and could result in a "cliff edge" of exposure when young people reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the refusal of the tech sector to design tools that are appropriate and age appropriate for young users," said a leading peer.

The United States: A Fragmented Picture

Stateside, action is primarily happening at the state government level amid national stalemate.

• Utah requires parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and limits late-night use.
• The state of Florida has signed a bill banning children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a law restricting teenagers to one hour of social media use per day, with additional use needing a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced measures requiring adult authorization for minors to set up social media presences.

Despite widespread concern and calls from certain politicians to follow this path, a nationwide ban is currently seen as improbable.

International Outlook

Beyond these regions, further nations are similarly taking action.

• The Malaysian government aims to prohibit social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has increased the required age for Instagram to 16.

But, global bodies strike a more measured stance. A major UN agency has cautioned that social media bans pose dangers and "may even prove counterproductive". The organization highlights that the internet can be a "lifeline" for marginalized children and that government action should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to invest in safety.

Even as this international discussion continues, the actions of this nation and its followers indicate that states around the world are no longer content to wait for the industry to self-regulate.