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The Australian decisive action to prohibit social media access for those under 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and parents are monitoring intently to see if this strategy will become a template for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Movement

In Europe, a growing group of states are exploring parallel measures.

• Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM declaring that phones and platforms are "stealing our kids' youth". The policy may be enacted soon.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to introduce a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to shield young people from the "influence of the AI".
• Ireland is working on a online verification tool to authenticate the age and identity of social media account holders. Authorities have suggested that an Australia-style ban remains "one of the tools in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has urged the legislature to pass a bill lifting the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has endorsed a comparable step, including an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in the Netherlands has urged guardians to prevent their kids from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has passed a non-binding statement calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 without a parent decides otherwise is granted. Although it highlights of the "addictive" design of these apps, the move does not enact binding law.

"A clear age restriction is a useful starting point," stated the parliamentarian driving the initiative.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Eye

In the UK, the government has kept open a possible ban, arguing that "nothing is off the table" but maintaining any decision must be "based on conclusive data".

Earlier, momentum gathered behind a legislative effort to impose controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually modified. Instead, the government pledged to investigate the issue.

Advocacy groups have raised apprehensions. One foundation founded by the loved ones of a teenager who was lost after encountering dangerous online content contends that a simple age ban might not improve online safety and could create a "cliff edge" of exposure when teens turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the failure of the Silicon Valley to design platforms and apps that are safe and suitable for children," commented a prominent online safety campaigner.

The US: A Decentralized Approach

Stateside, regulation is primarily occurring at the local government level due to national stalemate.

• Utah requires guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• Florida has signed a measure prohibiting children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a law restricting teenagers to a single hour of social media time per day, with any further use needing parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly passed measures mandating adult authorization for teenagers to set up social media profiles.

Even with widespread concern and proposals from various individuals to copy this example, a nationwide ban is currently seen as improbable.

Worldwide Outlook

Outside of the West, other nations are likewise taking action.

• Malaysia plans to prohibit social media for under-16s effective next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the required age for one major platform to 16.

Yet, world organizations strike a more cautious position. A major UN agency has warned that social media bans carry risks and "may even backfire". The organization points out that the internet can be a "vital connection" for isolated children and that bans should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to prioritize safety.

While this international conversation unfolds, the actions of this nation and its followers show that states globally are no longer prepared to wait for platforms to act voluntarily.