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The Australian decisive action to ban social media access for individuals under sixteen is sparking debate internationally. Officials, child protection groups, and parents are monitoring closely to see if this strategy will become a template for other nations.

Across Europe Momentum

Across Europe, a growing number of states are moving toward similar measures.

• The Danish government has announced a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the PM stating that mobile devices and apps are "stealing our kids' youth". A law could be passed next year.
• Norway is set to implement a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to protect young people from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is introducing a digital wallet to verify the identity and age of social media users. Authorities have suggested that an Australian-model ban is "one of the options in reserve".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged the legislature to approve a law raising the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a related action, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in The Netherlands has urged parents to restrict their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has approved a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for minors except if parental consent is provided. Although it highlights of the "habit-forming" design of these services, the step does not create binding law.

"A clear age limit is a solid first step," said one MEP driving the measure.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Approach

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has remained open to a possible ban, arguing that "no option is discarded" but stressing any action must be "based on conclusive evidence".

Earlier, support gathered behind a bill to introduce controls on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately weakened. However, the government vowed to investigate the matter.

Charities have voiced warnings. One foundation founded by the family of a teenager who died after being exposed to harmful platform posts contends that a simple age ban might not make platforms safer and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when users reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the failure of the Silicon Valley to design tools that are safe and fit for children," said a leading online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Fragmented Picture

Across America, regulation is largely happening at the regional level against a backdrop of country-wide inaction.

• The state of Utah requires adult approval for minors to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a measure prohibiting children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• Virginia has approved a law limiting under-16s to one hour of social media access per day, with any further time needing a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise enacted laws demanding parental consent for teenagers to set up social media presences.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from certain figures to follow this path, a US-wide ban is presently seen as unlikely.

International Views

Apart from these regions, other countries are similarly considering moves.

• The Malaysian government aims to prohibit social media for teenagers effective next year.
• Brazil has raised the access age for Instagram to 16.

However, international agencies take a more nuanced stance. A major UN agency has advised that age-based restrictions carry risks and "could prove counterproductive". The body notes that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable children and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to improve child safeguards.

As this global discussion evolves, the policies of Australia and its followers indicate that governments internationally are no longer content to stand by for the industry to self-regulate.