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Australia's bold action to restrict social media access for young people below 16 is sparking debate internationally. Lawmakers, campaigners, and guardians are observing closely to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

European Movement

Throughout Europe, a increasing number of states are moving toward similar measures.

• Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the PM declaring that mobile devices and platforms are "stealing our children's innocence". Legislation may be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is set to introduce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to protect the young from the "influence of the AI".
• Ireland is developing a digital wallet to verify the identity and age of social media account holders. The media minister have indicated that an similar ban is "a potential measures on the table".
• In Spain, the president has called on the legislature to pass a proposal increasing the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has endorsed a comparable step, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The government in the Netherlands has advised parents to restrict their kids from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has approved a non-binding statement calling for a ban for minors unless parental consent is provided. Even though it warns of the "compulsive" design of these platforms, the resolution does not enact mandatory rules.

"A strong age limit is a useful foundation," said a leading European lawmaker behind the measure.

Britain: A Cautious Stance

In the UK, the administration has remained open to a possible ban, emphasizing that "no option is discarded" but stressing any decision must be "based on robust research".

Previously, momentum grew behind a bill to introduce controls on social media use by minors, but it was eventually watered down. However, the administration committed to investigate the topic.

Campaign organizations have voiced concerns. An organization founded by the relatives of a teenager who died after being exposed to harmful platform posts suggests that a strict age ban may not make platforms safer and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of risk when young people become eligible.

"This ban is a answer to the inability of the tech sector to build tools that are appropriate and suitable for minors," commented a influential peer.

America: A State-by-State Approach

Across America, legislation is primarily happening at the local level against a backdrop of country-wide gridlock.

• Utah mandates adult approval for under-18s to use social media and limits late-night use.
• Florida has enacted a law prohibiting children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a rule limiting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with any further use requiring adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted laws requiring parental consent for teenagers to create social media accounts.

Despite cross-party agreement and suggestions from various figures to follow this lead, a US-wide ban is currently seen as improbable.

International Views

Beyond the West, other states are similarly considering moves.

• The Malaysian government intends to prohibit social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• Brazil has lifted the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

Yet, international organizations adopt a more nuanced stance. The UN children's agency has cautioned that social media bans pose dangers and "might prove counterproductive". The organization notes that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for marginalized youth and that bans should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to invest in user protection.

As this international conversation continues, the steps of this nation and its followers demonstrate that governments internationally are no longer prepared to wait for platforms to self-regulate.