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The nation's bold move to prohibit social media access for those under 16 is sparking debate worldwide. Politicians, safety advocates, and parents are watching closely to see if this strategy will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

The European Trend

In Europe, a growing chorus of nations are exploring comparable measures.

• The Danish government plans a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister arguing that smartphones and networks are "taking away our kids' youth". The policy could be enacted in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is planning to enforce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to safeguard children from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is developing a digital ID system to authenticate the identity and age of social media participants. Officials have suggested that an Australian-model ban could be "a potential measures in reserve".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked the legislature to pass a bill increasing the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a comparable action, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The government in The Netherlands has advised guardians to prevent their kids from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has adopted a advisory motion demanding a ban for under-16s without guardian approval is provided. While it warns of the "addictive" nature of these services, the step does not create enforceable legislation.

"A strong age barrier is a useful foundation," said a leading parliamentarian driving the measure.

Britain: A Watchful Eye

Across Britain, the leadership has remained open to a future ban, stating that "no measure is discarded" but insisting any policy must be "supported by strong research".

Last year, support grew behind a bill to introduce controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end weakened. Instead, the government vowed to investigate the matter.

Advocacy groups have expressed apprehensions. A prominent charity founded by the family of a young person who died after being exposed to harmful social media material contends that a simple age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when users become eligible.

"This ban is a response to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to build platforms and apps that are secure and fit for minors," said a prominent peer.

The US: A State-by-State Picture

In the United States, action is mostly unfolding at the regional government level against a backdrop of country-wide inaction.

• Utah requires parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and restricts late-night use.
• The state of Florida has passed a bill banning those below 14 from joining social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has approved a law capping minors to one hour of social media access per day, with extra access dependent on adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed laws mandating parental consent for minors to open social media presences.

Even with widespread concern and calls from some figures to copy Australia's lead, a nationwide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

International Views

Beyond these regions, other countries are similarly exploring options.

• The Malaysian government intends to restrict social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• Brazil has increased the required age for one major platform to 16.

However, world agencies adopt a more measured tone. Unicef has warned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "could have unintended consequences". The organization highlights that online platforms can be a "critical link" for isolated youth and that bans should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to invest in user protection.

While this global discussion continues, the steps of the Australian government and several other countries demonstrate that policymakers around the world are less and less willing to wait for platforms to self-regulate.