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Australia's decisive action to ban social media access for those under 16 is sparking debate internationally. Lawmakers, campaigners, and guardians are watching with great interest to see if this tactic will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Movement

In Europe, a growing chorus of states are considering similar measures.

• The Danish government has stated a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the PM stating that mobile devices and apps are "stealing our kids' youth". Legislation may be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is set to introduce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to protect young people from the "power of the algorithms".
• Ireland is developing a digital ID system to authenticate the identity and age of social media users. Authorities have suggested that an Australia-style ban remains "one of the options under consideration".
• In Spain, the president has called on the legislature to pass a proposal raising the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has recommended a comparable action, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The government in The Netherlands has urged families to prevent their children from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has adopted a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for minors unless guardian approval is given. Even though it warns of the "addictive" design of these services, the move does not create mandatory rules.

"An effective age restriction is a useful foundation," commented the MEP driving the initiative.

Britain: A Cautious Stance

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has not ruled out a future ban, arguing that "no option is off the table" but insisting any policy must be "based on robust evidence".

Earlier, support gathered behind a legislative effort to introduce restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was in the end weakened. However, the administration vowed to conduct more studies the matter.

Advocacy groups have raised warnings. An organization set up by the loved ones of a young person who was lost after encountering dangerous platform posts argues that a strict age ban might not make platforms safer and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of risk when teens turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the inability of the tech sector to design products and services that are safe and suitable for children," stated a leading online safety campaigner.

America: A State-by-State Landscape

Stateside, legislation is largely happening at the local government level against a backdrop of national stalemate.

• Utah mandates adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has passed a bill banning under-14s from joining social media, though it faces court battles.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting teenagers to a single hour of social media time per day, with extra use requiring adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed measures demanding parental consent for under-16s to set up social media presences.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from certain individuals to follow this path, a US-wide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Outlook

Outside of these regions, additional nations are likewise taking action.

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

However, global organizations take a more cautious tone. The UN children's agency has advised that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "might backfire". The organization notes that the internet can be a "lifeline" for isolated children and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to prioritize user protection.

Even as this global discussion unfolds, the steps of Australia and its followers demonstrate that states around the world are less and less content to stand by for the industry to make changes on their own.