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Australia's bold policy to ban social media access for those under 16 is sparking debate internationally. Officials, child protection groups, and guardians are observing with great interest to see if this approach will set a precedent for other nations.

European Momentum

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

• The Danish government has stated a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the PM declaring that phones and apps are "taking away our youngsters' youth". The policy is expected to be passed next year.
• Norway is preparing to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard young people from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is working on a online verification tool to verify the user details of social media users. Officials have suggested that an Australian-model ban could be "an measures in reserve".
• In Spain, the president has asked lawmakers to pass a bill raising the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a similar step, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The administration in the Netherlands has urged guardians to prevent their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has adopted a advisory motion calling for a ban for minors except if a parent decides otherwise is provided. Although it warns of the "compulsive" design of these apps, the step does not create mandatory rules.

"A strong age limit is a good first step," said one MEP supporting the initiative.

The UK: A Watchful Approach

For the United Kingdom, the administration has kept open a possible ban, emphasizing that "no measure is being dismissed" but maintaining any policy must be "grounded in conclusive data".

Earlier, support gathered behind a bill to enact restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was in the end modified. Instead, the administration committed to investigate the topic.

Charities have expressed apprehensions. An organization founded by the loved ones of a teenager who took her own life after viewing harmful online content contends that a blanket age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could result in a "dangerous transition" of exposure when teens become eligible.

"This ban is a answer to the inability of the tech sector to build tools that are safe and age appropriate for young users," said a influential online safety campaigner.

America: A State-by-State Picture

Stateside, regulation is largely happening at the state level amid federal stalemate.

• The state of Utah mandates guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and controls late-night use.
• Florida has passed a measure barring children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has enacted a regulation limiting under-16s to a single hour of social media use per day, with extra access dependent on a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly passed measures mandating parental consent for under-16s to set up social media profiles.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from various figures to mimic this lead, a federal ban is presently seen as improbable.

Worldwide Perspectives

Beyond the West, further states are similarly taking action.

• Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has increased the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, international bodies take a more cautious position. A major UN agency has warned that social media bans have downsides and "might have unintended consequences". The agency highlights that online platforms can be a "critical link" for vulnerable children and that government action should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to prioritize user protection.

As this worldwide debate evolves, the actions of this nation and others demonstrate that states internationally are no longer prepared to wait for the industry to make changes on their own.