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Australia's decisive move to prohibit social media access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Politicians, child protection groups, and guardians are observing with great interest to see if this tactic will set a precedent for countries abroad.

European Movement

In Europe, a rising group of nations are moving toward parallel measures.

• Denmark plans a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister stating that mobile devices and apps are "robbing our kids' childhood". The policy could be enacted next year.
• Norway is planning to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to shield young people from the "manipulative force of the AI".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to confirm the age and identity of social media participants. Officials have suggested that an similar ban is "a potential options on the table".
• In Spain, the president has urged parliament to enact a bill lifting the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a similar move, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in The Netherlands has urged families to restrict their children from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has passed a non-binding resolution calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 unless guardian approval is provided. While it cautions of the "addictive" design of these apps, the move does not create mandatory rules.

"A strong age restriction is a useful starting point," said a leading European lawmaker supporting the measure.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Eye

In the UK, the government has kept open a potential ban, emphasizing that "nothing is discarded" but maintaining any action must be "grounded in conclusive data".

Earlier, support gathered behind a proposal to impose restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was in the end modified. Instead, the government pledged to conduct more studies the issue.

Advocacy groups have expressed apprehensions. A prominent charity founded by the loved ones of a girl who took her own life after encountering harmful platform posts suggests that a strict age ban may not improve online safety and could lead to a "cliff edge" of exposure when young people turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the failure of the Silicon Valley to design products and services that are appropriate and suitable for minors," said a influential child protection advocate.

America: A Decentralized Landscape

Across America, legislation is mostly occurring at the local government level against a backdrop of federal gridlock.

• The state of Utah mandates parental consent for under-18s to use social media and limits overnight use.
• The state of Florida has signed a measure banning children under fourteen from joining social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a rule restricting minors to a single hour of social media time per day, with extra time requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly enacted measures requiring parental consent for minors to create social media accounts.

Despite widespread concern and suggestions from some figures to mimic Australia's lead, a federal ban is currently seen as improbable.

Global Outlook

Outside of these regions, other countries are likewise taking action.

• Malaysia aims to restrict social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has lifted the access age for one major platform to 16.

However, global organizations strike a more cautious tone. Unicef has advised that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "might prove counterproductive". The organization points out that the internet can be a "lifeline" for marginalized young people and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to prioritize user protection.

As this global debate evolves, the actions of this nation and its followers demonstrate that policymakers around the world are increasingly willing to wait for tech companies to act voluntarily.