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The nation's bold move to prohibit social media access for young people below 16 is creating waves internationally. Officials, safety advocates, and parents are monitoring intently to see if this approach will set a precedent for countries abroad.

The European Momentum

In Europe, a growing chorus of nations are exploring parallel bans.

• The Danish government plans a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader stating that smartphones and networks are "robbing our kids' innocence". Legislation is expected to be formalized next year.
• The Norwegian government is set to introduce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to protect young people from the "power of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to authenticate the identity and age of social media account holders. The media minister have stated that an similar ban remains "a potential tools in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has urged lawmakers to pass a law raising the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a comparable move, including an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The administration in the Netherlands has recommended families to block their children from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has adopted a non-binding resolution supporting a ban for under-16s except if a parent decides otherwise is granted. Even though it highlights of the "compulsive" nature of these apps, the step does not establish binding law.

"A strong age restriction is a solid starting point," commented the European lawmaker driving the initiative.

Britain: A Watchful Stance

In the UK, the administration has remained open to a future ban, arguing that "nothing is discarded" but insisting any action must be "based on conclusive research".

Earlier, momentum grew behind a proposal to enact restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately weakened. However, the government vowed to conduct more studies the topic.

Advocacy groups have raised warnings. A prominent charity set up by the relatives of a teenager who died after being exposed to dangerous platform posts contends that a strict age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could create a "dangerous transition" of exposure when young people reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a response to the inability of the social media companies to build tools that are safe and age appropriate for young users," said a prominent online safety campaigner.

America: A Decentralized Picture

Across America, legislation is largely occurring at the regional government level due to country-wide inaction.

• Utah demands adult approval for under-18s to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has signed a measure banning under-14s from joining social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has passed a law restricting teenagers to a single hour of social media access per day, with additional time needing parental permission.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise introduced laws mandating adult authorization for under-16s to set up social media accounts.

Despite bipartisan support and suggestions from certain figures to copy Australia's example, a federal ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.

International Outlook

Beyond Europe and the US, further nations are also exploring options.

• Malaysia plans to restrict social media for under-16s effective next year.
• Brazil has raised the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, global organizations strike a more nuanced stance. A major UN agency has warned that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "might have unintended consequences". The body highlights that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for isolated youth and that bans should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to invest in safety.

Even as this international conversation evolves, the policies of Australia and several other countries indicate that governments internationally are no longer prepared to delay for the industry to self-regulate.