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The Australian controversial policy to ban social media access for those under 16 is sparking debate internationally. Lawmakers, campaigners, and guardians are monitoring with great interest to see if this tactic will become a template for countries abroad.

Across Europe Trend

Across Europe, a rising group of nations are moving toward comparable restrictions.

• Denmark has announced a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister stating that mobile devices and apps are "taking away our kids' innocence". A law is expected to be enacted next year.
• Norway is preparing to introduce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to protect young people from the "power of the AI".
• Ireland is developing a digital ID system to confirm the user details of social media participants. The media minister have suggested that an Australia-style ban is "one of the measures under consideration".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged the legislature to pass a proposal raising the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a similar action, including an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has recommended guardians to prevent their children from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has passed a non-binding motion supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 unless a parent decides otherwise is provided. Although it warns of the "habit-forming" design of these apps, the resolution does not establish binding law.

"A strong age restriction is a useful first step," stated the parliamentarian driving the resolution.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Eye

In the UK, the leadership has not ruled out a possible ban, emphasizing that "no option is being dismissed" but insisting any policy must be "grounded in strong evidence".

Earlier, momentum gathered behind a bill to enact limits on social media use by minors, but it was in the end modified. However, the government committed to further research the matter.

Charities have voiced apprehensions. An organization founded by the family of a young person who took her own life after being exposed to dangerous social media material suggests that a strict age ban might not improve online safety and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of risk when teens reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a answer to the failure of the tech sector to build products and services that are appropriate and suitable for children," commented a influential peer.

The United States: A State-by-State Picture

In the United States, regulation is largely happening at the regional level against a backdrop of national inaction.

• Utah mandates adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and controls late-night use.
• Florida has passed a measure prohibiting under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• Virginia has passed a law limiting minors to one hour of social media use per day, with any further use requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise passed bills demanding parental consent for under-16s to open social media profiles.

Despite widespread concern and suggestions from some politicians to follow the Australian path, a US-wide ban is right now seen as improbable.

Global Perspectives

Apart from the West, further states are also considering moves.

• Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for teenagers effective next year.
• Brazil has lifted the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, world agencies take a more measured tone. Unicef has cautioned that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "may even prove counterproductive". The agency notes that the internet can be a "lifeline" for marginalized children and that bans should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to prioritize safety.

Even as this international debate unfolds, the actions of this nation and its followers show that states internationally are less and less willing to delay for the industry to make changes on their own.