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Australia's controversial move to prohibit social media access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples around the globe. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and guardians are observing with great interest to see if this tactic will become a template for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Movement

Across Europe, a increasing group of nations are moving toward similar restrictions.

• The Danish government has announced a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister stating that smartphones and apps are "stealing our kids' youth". The policy could be passed soon.
• Norway is set to enforce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to protect the young from the "influence of the AI".
• Ireland is developing a digital wallet to verify the age and identity of social media participants. Officials have indicated that an Australian-model ban could be "one of the measures under consideration".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked the legislature to pass a proposal lifting the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a similar step, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has urged parents to restrict their kids from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has adopted a advisory motion supporting a ban for under-16s except if a parent decides otherwise is provided. Although it warns of the "compulsive" nature of these services, the move does not enact binding law.

"A clear age limit is a solid starting point," stated one MEP driving the initiative.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Eye

In the UK, the government has kept open a possible ban, arguing that "nothing is discarded" but maintaining any action must be "grounded in strong research".

Previously, momentum grew behind a legislative effort to impose controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually watered down. Instead, the government vowed to further research the issue.

Charities have expressed concerns. An organization established by the relatives of a girl who was lost after viewing dangerous platform posts argues that a strict age ban might not protect children and could result in a "cliff edge" of harm when young people turn 16.

"This ban is a answer to the inability of the Silicon Valley to build products and services that are safe and suitable for children," stated a influential online safety campaigner.

America: A Decentralized Picture

In the United States, legislation is primarily unfolding at the state level against a backdrop of federal inaction.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for minors to use social media and restricts late-night use.
• Florida has passed a law barring under-14s from joining social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has approved a rule capping teenagers to a single hour of social media use per day, with extra time dependent on parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise passed laws mandating parental consent for under-16s to set up social media profiles.

Even with widespread concern and proposals from certain politicians to mimic this path, a nationwide ban is presently seen as unlikely.

Global Outlook

Outside of these regions, other nations are likewise considering moves.

• Malaysia plans to ban social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the access age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, world organizations adopt a more cautious tone. A major UN agency has advised that social media bans pose dangers and "may even have unintended consequences". The agency notes that social networks can be a "critical link" for marginalized young people and that government action should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to prioritize safety.

Even as this worldwide discussion unfolds, the policies of Australia and its followers demonstrate that policymakers globally are no longer prepared to wait for tech companies to self-regulate.