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The nation's bold action to prohibit social media access for those under 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Officials, safety advocates, and families are monitoring with great interest to see if this tactic will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

The European Trend

Throughout Europe, a rising number of countries are exploring similar bans.

• Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the PM stating that phones and apps are "stealing our youngsters' childhood". The policy is expected to be passed soon.
• Norway is preparing to enforce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to shield the young from the "power of the algorithms".
• Ireland is developing a digital wallet to confirm the user details of social media users. The media minister have stated that an Australia-style ban remains "a potential options on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged parliament to pass a proposal raising the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has recommended a comparable move, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The administration in The Dutch government has recommended families to prevent their youngsters from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has passed a symbolic statement demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 except if guardian approval is provided. Although it warns of the "habit-forming" nature of these platforms, the move does not establish binding law.

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

Britain: A Cautious Stance

In the UK, the leadership has kept open a future ban, stating that "no measure is discarded" but insisting any decision must be "based on conclusive research".

Earlier, interest built behind a proposal to introduce restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually watered down. Nonetheless, the government pledged to conduct more studies the matter.

Charities have raised warnings. A prominent charity set up by the family of a teenager who was lost after viewing disturbing social media material contends that a simple age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could create a "sudden drop-off" of harm when users become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a answer to the inability of the tech sector to build tools that are appropriate and age appropriate for children," commented a leading child protection advocate.

The United States: A Fragmented Approach

Across America, legislation is largely happening at the local level due to federal inaction.

• Utah requires adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and controls overnight use.
• Florida has enacted a measure banning those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• The state of Virginia has approved a regulation capping teenagers to a single hour of social media time per day, with extra access requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced bills requiring guardian approval for teenagers to create social media accounts.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from various figures to follow Australia's example, a federal ban is presently seen as unlikely.

International Outlook

Beyond Europe and the US, further nations are similarly exploring options.

• Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, world bodies strike a more cautious tone. A major UN agency has advised that social media bans have downsides and "could have unintended consequences". The agency notes that social networks can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable youth and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to invest in child safeguards.

Even as this worldwide debate continues, the actions of the Australian government and several other countries show that governments globally are no longer willing to wait for tech companies to act voluntarily.