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Australia's decisive move to ban social media access for young people below 16 is sparking debate around the globe. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and guardians are observing intently to see if this approach will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

European Trend

In Europe, a growing chorus of states are moving toward parallel measures.

• Denmark has stated a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader arguing that phones and networks are "robbing our kids' youth". Legislation may be formalized in the coming year.
• Norway is preparing to implement a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard young people from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• Ireland is developing a digital ID system to confirm the user details of social media account holders. The media minister have suggested that an Australian-model ban is "one of the options in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has called on the legislature to approve a proposal lifting the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the president has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has endorsed a similar action, including an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has advised guardians to prevent their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has passed a advisory statement supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 without a parent decides otherwise is granted. Although it warns of the "compulsive" quality of these apps, the resolution does not enact mandatory rules.

"A strong age restriction is a solid first step," commented the European lawmaker behind the initiative.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Stance

Across Britain, the leadership has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "no measure is off the table" but stressing any action must be "supported by robust research".

Last year, support gathered behind a proposal to introduce limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually watered down. However, the administration committed to investigate the issue.

Campaign organizations have raised warnings. One foundation established by the loved ones of a girl who died after being exposed to disturbing platform posts argues that a blanket age ban may not improve online safety and could create a "dangerous transition" of harm when teens turn 16.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the refusal of the tech sector to create tools that are safe and age appropriate for children," said a prominent peer.

The United States: A Fragmented Approach

In the United States, legislation is primarily unfolding at the local level due to national stalemate.

• Utah demands adult approval for minors to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• Florida has signed a measure prohibiting under-14s from accessing social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has passed a regulation limiting teenagers to a single hour of social media use per day, with extra time dependent on adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced laws demanding parental consent for teenagers to create social media profiles.

Even with cross-party agreement and calls from certain figures to follow the Australian example, a federal ban is currently seen as improbable.

Worldwide Views

Apart from Europe and the US, further states are likewise considering moves.

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

Yet, world bodies strike a more nuanced position. The UN children's agency has cautioned that social media bans carry risks and "could prove counterproductive". The agency notes that social networks can be a "critical link" for isolated youth and that government action should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to improve user protection.

Even as this global conversation unfolds, the steps of the Australian government and several other countries show that policymakers internationally are no longer content to delay for tech companies to make changes on their own.