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The nation's decisive move to prohibit social media access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves around the globe. Politicians, safety advocates, and parents are observing intently to see if this approach will become a template for countries abroad.

European Trend

Throughout Europe, a increasing number of nations are considering comparable measures.

• The Danish government plans a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the PM stating that mobile devices and apps are "robbing our children's youth". A law could be passed next year.
• The Norwegian government is planning to implement a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to protect young people from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is introducing a online verification tool to confirm the age and identity of social media participants. Officials have suggested that an Australian-model ban is "a potential options on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked the legislature to enact a proposal increasing the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a similar step, including an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The administration in The Dutch government has recommended families to block their children from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has adopted a symbolic statement demanding a ban for minors except if guardian approval is granted. Even though it warns of the "habit-forming" design of these services, the step does not establish binding law.

"A clear age barrier is a solid starting point," commented one European lawmaker supporting the measure.

Britain: A Cautious Stance

Across Britain, the government has kept open a future ban, arguing that "nothing is being dismissed" but stressing any decision must be "supported by robust data".

Last year, momentum grew behind a bill to impose controls on social media use by minors, but it was in the end weakened. Instead, the administration committed to investigate the matter.

Campaign organizations have raised warnings. An organization established by the family of a teenager who was lost after being exposed to harmful platform posts contends that a simple age ban could fail to improve online safety and could create a "cliff edge" of exposure when teens reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the failure of the social media companies to build platforms and apps that are secure and suitable for children," said a prominent online safety campaigner.

The United States: A State-by-State Approach

In the United States, legislation is mostly unfolding at the state government level due to federal stalemate.

• The state of Utah requires adult approval for minors to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a law barring those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• Virginia has enacted a rule restricting teenagers to one hour of social media time per day, with additional access dependent on parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed measures demanding guardian approval for teenagers to open social media presences.

Despite cross-party agreement and calls from certain figures to follow Australia's path, a nationwide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Perspectives

Apart from the West, further states are likewise considering moves.

• The Malaysian government aims to prohibit social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• Brazil has lifted the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, world bodies strike a more nuanced stance. Unicef has cautioned that social media bans carry risks and "might prove counterproductive". The organization points out that online platforms can be a "critical link" for isolated young people and that government action should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to prioritize user protection.

While this global conversation evolves, the steps of the Australian government 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.