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Australia's decisive move to prohibit social media access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves around the globe. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and parents are watching intently to see if this approach will set a precedent for other nations.

European Trend

Throughout Europe, a increasing chorus of countries are moving toward parallel restrictions.

• Denmark has stated a ban on social media for under-15s, with the PM stating that mobile devices and apps are "robbing our children's innocence". A law could be passed next year.
• Norway is planning to introduce a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to shield the young from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is working on a digital wallet to verify the identity and age of social media users. Authorities have suggested that an similar ban is "a potential tools under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the president has asked the legislature to approve a bill lifting the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has suggested a similar step, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The government in The Dutch government has advised families to block their youngsters from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has passed a symbolic motion supporting a ban for minors except if a parent decides otherwise is provided. While it warns of the "addictive" quality of these platforms, the move does not enact enforceable legislation.

"A clear age restriction is a good first step," commented one European lawmaker supporting the measure.

The UK: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the administration has remained open to a potential ban, emphasizing that "no measure is discarded" but stressing any policy must be "grounded in robust data".

Previously, momentum built behind a legislative effort to impose limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually modified. Nonetheless, the government vowed to investigate the issue.

Charities have expressed apprehensions. A prominent charity founded by the relatives of a young person who was lost after viewing disturbing platform posts contends that a strict age ban might not make platforms safer and could lead to a "cliff edge" of harm when teens reach the legal age.

"This ban is a response to the inability of the tech sector to create platforms and apps that are secure and age appropriate for minors," stated a influential online safety campaigner.

The US: A State-by-State Approach

Stateside, regulation is mostly unfolding at the state level due to national gridlock.

• Utah demands parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a measure prohibiting children under fourteen from joining social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has approved a regulation capping teenagers to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with additional use requiring a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise introduced bills requiring adult authorization for under-16s to create social media presences.

Even with cross-party agreement and calls from some figures to copy this example, a federal ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Views

Beyond Europe and the US, further states are similarly considering moves.

• Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• Brazil has lifted the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, international organizations strike a more measured position. The UN children's agency has advised that social media bans carry risks and "may even backfire". The agency highlights that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for marginalized children and that bans should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to prioritize user protection.

As this worldwide debate evolves, the steps of Australia and its followers demonstrate that governments globally are no longer prepared to stand by for platforms to act voluntarily.