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The nation's controversial move to ban social media access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves internationally. Politicians, safety advocates, and guardians are observing closely to see if this approach will set a precedent for countries abroad.

European Movement

Across Europe, a increasing number of nations are exploring comparable restrictions.

• Denmark plans a ban on social media for under-15s, with the leader declaring that smartphones and apps are "taking away our youngsters' childhood". Legislation may be formalized soon.
• Norway is planning to enforce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to safeguard children from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is working on a digital wallet to verify the age and identity of social media users. Officials have indicated that an Australian-model ban could be "one of the tools under consideration".
• In Spain, the president has urged the legislature to approve a proposal lifting the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has recommended a comparable action, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The government in the Netherlands has recommended parents to restrict their youngsters from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the EU parliament has passed a non-binding statement demanding a ban for minors unless guardian approval is given. While it highlights of the "habit-forming" quality of these apps, the move does not establish binding law.

"A strong age restriction is a useful foundation," stated the European lawmaker behind the measure.

Britain: A Cautious Stance

Across Britain, the administration has remained open to a future ban, stating that "no measure is being dismissed" but insisting any action must be "supported by robust evidence".

Earlier, interest gathered behind a legislative effort to impose controls on social media use by minors, but it was in the end modified. Instead, the government committed to conduct more studies the issue.

Campaign organizations have voiced concerns. An organization set up by the loved ones of a young person who took her own life after viewing harmful online content suggests that a strict age ban may not protect children and could create a "sudden drop-off" of risk when users reach the legal age.

"This ban is a answer to the refusal of the tech sector to design tools that are secure and suitable for children," said a influential online safety campaigner.

The United States: A State-by-State Landscape

In the United States, regulation is primarily unfolding at the regional level amid federal inaction.

• Utah demands adult approval for minors to use social media and limits late-night use.
• The state of Florida has signed a bill banning under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has enacted a law capping minors to one hour of social media use per day, with any further time needing a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly introduced bills demanding adult authorization for teenagers to set up social media presences.

Even with bipartisan support and proposals from some individuals to copy Australia's lead, a federal ban is currently seen as unlikely.

International Views

Beyond these regions, other states are similarly considering moves.

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

However, international organizations adopt a more nuanced tone. A major UN agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "might backfire". The body points out that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for isolated youth and that government action should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to improve safety.

As this worldwide conversation unfolds, the steps of the Australian government and others demonstrate that policymakers globally are less and less content to stand by for platforms to self-regulate.