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Australia's decisive action to prohibit social media access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples around the globe. Officials, safety advocates, and guardians are monitoring with great interest to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.

The European Trend

In Europe, a growing number of countries are exploring parallel bans.

• Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the PM declaring that phones and apps are "taking away our kids' childhood". Legislation could be formalized next year.
• Norway is planning to implement a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard the young from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is developing a digital ID system to authenticate the age and identity of social media participants. Authorities have stated that an Australia-style ban could be "a potential tools under consideration".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked the legislature to enact a law increasing the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has endorsed a comparable action, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has recommended parents to restrict their kids from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has adopted a symbolic statement calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 unless guardian approval is given. Even though it highlights of the "habit-forming" design of these services, the step does not enact enforceable legislation.

"A strong age limit is a good starting point," said a leading European lawmaker behind the initiative.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Eye

For the United Kingdom, the administration has kept open a future ban, arguing that "no measure is off the table" but insisting any policy must be "grounded in conclusive evidence".

Earlier, support gathered behind a legislative effort to introduce controls on social media use by minors, but it was in the end weakened. Instead, the government vowed to conduct more studies the topic.

Charities have voiced apprehensions. An organization set up by the family of a teenager who was lost after viewing disturbing online content suggests that a blanket age ban could fail to improve online safety and could create a "sudden drop-off" of risk when young people reach the legal age.

"This ban is a reaction to the inability of the social media companies to create tools that are appropriate and fit for young users," commented a influential online safety campaigner.

The US: A State-by-State Approach

In the United States, action is mostly occurring at the regional level due to national inaction.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• Florida has signed a law banning children under fourteen from joining social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has approved a law restricting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with any further access needing adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise enacted bills requiring adult authorization for minors to set up social media accounts.

Even with widespread concern and proposals from certain individuals to mimic the Australian path, a nationwide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Perspectives

Beyond the West, other countries are similarly exploring options.

• Malaysia intends to restrict social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
• Brazil has increased the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, world bodies strike a more cautious tone. A major UN agency has cautioned that social media bans carry risks and "could have unintended consequences". The organization notes that social networks can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable young people and that government action should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to improve safety.

As this international debate evolves, the steps of the Australian government and others show that states globally are increasingly prepared to wait for the industry to self-regulate.