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The nation's bold policy to ban social media access for those under 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Politicians, campaigners, and parents are observing with great interest to see if this approach will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

The European Movement

Across Europe, a rising number of countries are moving toward comparable restrictions.

• The Danish government plans a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the PM stating that mobile devices and platforms are "taking away our youngsters' youth". The policy could be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is set to implement a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to protect young people from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to confirm the user details of social media participants. The media minister have stated that an similar ban is "one of the measures in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has urged lawmakers to enact a bill raising the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has recommended a comparable action, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has recommended parents to prevent their kids from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the EU parliament has passed a symbolic statement supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 without a parent decides otherwise is given. While it warns of the "compulsive" quality of these apps, the move does not establish binding law.

"An effective age restriction is a useful foundation," stated one MEP driving the resolution.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Eye

In the UK, the administration has remained open to a potential ban, stating that "nothing is discarded" but maintaining any action must be "grounded in conclusive data".

Previously, interest grew behind a bill to impose limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end modified. Nonetheless, the administration committed to investigate the issue.

Advocacy groups have raised warnings. An organization founded by the family of a young person who was lost after viewing dangerous online content contends that a strict age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could create a "dangerous transition" of exposure when young people become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a answer to the failure of the social media companies to design tools that are secure and suitable for children," commented a prominent child protection advocate.

The United States: A Decentralized Picture

In the United States, regulation is largely occurring at the regional level against a backdrop of national inaction.

• The state of Utah mandates parental consent for under-18s to use social media and controls overnight use.
• The state of Florida has signed a law banning children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a regulation limiting minors to a single hour of social media time per day, with additional time dependent on a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced laws mandating guardian approval for minors to set up social media presences.

Even with cross-party agreement and calls from some politicians to mimic the Australian example, a nationwide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

Global Outlook

Apart from the West, other countries are likewise exploring options.

• The Malaysian government aims to prohibit social media for under-16s effective next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

However, world organizations strike a more cautious position. Unicef has warned that social media bans carry risks and "might prove counterproductive". The body notes that the internet can be a "vital connection" for marginalized children and that bans should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to improve safety.

As this worldwide conversation evolves, the policies of this nation and others demonstrate that governments around the world are no longer prepared to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.