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The nation's bold policy to ban social media access for young people below 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Officials, campaigners, and families are monitoring intently to see if this strategy will set a precedent for other nations.

The European Trend

In Europe, a rising chorus of nations are considering parallel bans.

• The Danish government has announced a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM arguing that phones and platforms are "stealing our youngsters' youth". Legislation could be enacted soon.
• The Norwegian government is planning to introduce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to protect the young from the "influence of the algorithms".
• Ireland is developing a digital ID system to verify the identity and age of social media account holders. Authorities have indicated that an Australia-style ban remains "an tools in reserve".
• In Spain, the leader has called on lawmakers to enact a law lifting the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has recommended a similar step, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has urged guardians to prevent their children from social media up to the age of 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has passed a non-binding motion demanding a ban for minors except if guardian approval is granted. Even though it cautions of the "habit-forming" quality of these platforms, the move does not establish enforceable legislation.

"A clear age limit is a solid foundation," said one MEP supporting the resolution.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Eye

For the United Kingdom, the government has not ruled out a potential ban, stating that "nothing is being dismissed" but insisting any action must be "supported by robust research".

Earlier, support gathered behind a proposal to impose limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually modified. Nonetheless, the administration pledged to further research the issue.

Campaign organizations have expressed apprehensions. One foundation set up by the family of a girl who died after encountering harmful platform posts suggests that a strict age ban could fail to improve online safety and could result in a "cliff edge" of exposure when users reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a answer to the inability of the social media companies to create products and services that are appropriate and suitable for minors," commented a influential peer.

The United States: A State-by-State Landscape

Stateside, legislation is largely unfolding at the state level against a backdrop of national gridlock.

• Utah mandates parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has signed a law prohibiting under-14s from joining social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting minors to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with extra time requiring adult consent.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise enacted bills requiring adult authorization for under-16s to set up social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and suggestions from certain individuals to mimic the Australian example, a US-wide ban is right now seen as improbable.

Global Views

Outside of Europe and the US, other countries are likewise considering moves.

• Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has lifted the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, global organizations strike a more measured position. Unicef has advised that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "could prove counterproductive". The agency points out that the internet can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable youth and that bans should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to invest in child safeguards.

Even as this international conversation unfolds, the actions of Australia and its followers show that governments around the world are less and less content to delay for platforms to act voluntarily.