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The nation's decisive action to ban social media access for those under 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Politicians, safety advocates, and parents are monitoring closely to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

European Momentum

Throughout Europe, a rising group of countries are considering comparable measures.

• The Danish government has stated a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM declaring that smartphones and platforms are "robbing our children's innocence". Legislation is expected to be enacted soon.
• Norway is preparing to introduce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to protect young people from the "manipulative force of the AI".
• Ireland is developing a online verification tool to confirm the identity and age of social media participants. The media minister have suggested that an similar ban is "one of the measures on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has asked parliament to approve a proposal raising the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a similar action, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in The Dutch government has recommended guardians to block their youngsters from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has passed a symbolic resolution supporting a ban for under-16s except if parental consent is provided. Even though it cautions of the "compulsive" nature of these services, the move does not enact enforceable legislation.

"A clear age limit is a useful foundation," commented the MEP driving the initiative.

Britain: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the government has not ruled out a potential ban, emphasizing that "nothing is off the table" but stressing any decision must be "grounded in strong evidence".

Earlier, momentum grew behind a bill to introduce limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end modified. Nonetheless, the administration vowed to conduct more studies the matter.

Charities have raised concerns. An organization established by the relatives of a teenager who was lost after being exposed to disturbing online content suggests that a strict age ban could fail to improve online safety and could lead to a "cliff edge" of harm when teens become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a response to the inability of the tech sector to build products and services that are safe and suitable for young users," commented a leading online safety campaigner.

The US: A State-by-State Landscape

Stateside, legislation is largely unfolding at the local level against a backdrop of federal inaction.

• Utah mandates adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and limits late-night use.
• The state of Florida has passed a law barring under-14s from joining social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has approved a regulation capping teenagers to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with extra use requiring adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced bills mandating parental consent for under-16s to create social media profiles.

Despite cross-party agreement and suggestions from certain politicians to copy this path, a federal ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Outlook

Apart from Europe and the US, additional nations are similarly exploring options.

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

But, global agencies take a more cautious stance. The UN children's agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "may even prove counterproductive". The body notes that social networks can be a "critical link" for marginalized children and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to prioritize safety.

As this international debate unfolds, the steps of the Australian government and its followers demonstrate that states globally are no longer prepared to stand by for the industry to act voluntarily.