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The Australian bold policy to ban social media access for those under 16 is sparking debate worldwide. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and parents are monitoring closely to see if this tactic will become a template for other nations.

The European Trend

Throughout Europe, a growing chorus of states are considering similar measures.

• Denmark has announced a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the PM declaring that phones and platforms are "robbing our youngsters' youth". The policy is expected to be formalized in the coming year.
• Norway is planning to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to shield the young from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is working on a digital ID system to verify the age and identity of social media account holders. Officials have suggested that an similar ban could be "a potential measures on the table".
• In Spain, the president has asked lawmakers to enact a proposal lifting the access age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a similar move, including an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in The Netherlands has urged families to prevent their children from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has passed a non-binding resolution calling for a ban for minors except if a parent decides otherwise is provided. Even though it cautions of the "compulsive" quality of these platforms, the step does not establish mandatory rules.

"A clear age barrier is a good starting point," stated one parliamentarian behind the measure.

The UK: A Watchful Eye

Across Britain, the administration has remained open to a potential ban, stating that "no measure is discarded" but stressing any action must be "supported by robust data".

Previously, momentum grew behind a proposal to enact controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually weakened. However, the government vowed to further research the matter.

Charities have raised apprehensions. An organization set up by the loved ones of a girl who took her own life after encountering dangerous social media material contends that a blanket age ban may not improve online safety and could lead to a "cliff edge" of harm when users become eligible.

"This ban is a answer to the failure of the tech sector to build products and services that are appropriate and fit for minors," commented a prominent online safety campaigner.

The US: A State-by-State Landscape

Stateside, legislation is largely happening at the local level against a backdrop of federal stalemate.

• Utah requires parental consent for under-18s to use social media and limits overnight use.
• The state of Florida has signed a law banning under-14s from accessing social media, though it faces court battles.
• The state of Virginia has passed a regulation capping under-16s to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with extra time needing a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed bills mandating adult authorization for teenagers to set up social media presences.

Despite bipartisan support and suggestions from some politicians to mimic this path, a US-wide ban is currently seen as unlikely.

International Outlook

Outside of these regions, further countries are similarly taking action.

• Malaysia intends to restrict social media for teenagers effective next year.
• Brazil has raised the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, global bodies take a more cautious tone. Unicef has warned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "could backfire". The agency highlights that online platforms can be a "critical link" for isolated young people and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to invest in safety.

As this worldwide discussion unfolds, the actions of the Australian government and several other countries show that policymakers around the world are no longer content to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.