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The nation's decisive action to restrict social media access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Officials, campaigners, and families are monitoring with great interest to see if this tactic will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

European Trend

In Europe, a rising number of nations are moving toward comparable restrictions.

• The Danish government plans a ban on social media for under-15s, with the PM arguing that phones and apps are "stealing our youngsters' childhood". The policy may be formalized soon.
• Norway is set to implement a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard the young from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is working on a digital wallet to verify the user details of social media account holders. The media minister have indicated that an Australia-style ban could be "an measures under consideration".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged lawmakers to enact a proposal lifting the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has recommended a comparable move, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in The Netherlands has advised parents to restrict their youngsters from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has adopted a advisory motion calling for a ban for minors except if a parent decides otherwise is given. Even though it cautions of the "addictive" quality of these platforms, the resolution does not enact binding law.

"A strong age barrier is a useful foundation," commented one MEP behind the initiative.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Eye

In the UK, the administration has remained open to a possible ban, stating that "nothing is discarded" but maintaining any decision must be "based on strong research".

Earlier, support built behind a bill to enact limits on social media use by minors, but it was eventually weakened. Instead, the government pledged to investigate the topic.

Charities have expressed apprehensions. A prominent charity established by the relatives of a teenager who was lost after encountering dangerous social media material suggests that a simple age ban may not improve online safety and could result in a "dangerous transition" of risk when users reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the inability of the tech sector to create platforms and apps that are safe and fit for children," commented a influential peer.

The United States: A Decentralized Approach

Stateside, regulation is primarily occurring at the regional level due to federal stalemate.

• Utah demands adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and limits late-night use.
• Florida has signed a measure prohibiting under-14s from joining social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• Virginia has enacted a law limiting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with additional time requiring parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also enacted measures requiring guardian approval for under-16s to create social media profiles.

Even with bipartisan support and calls from some figures to copy Australia's path, a US-wide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

International Outlook

Apart from Europe and the US, other states are likewise considering moves.

• Malaysia plans to ban social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• Brazil has increased the required age for one major platform to 16.

Yet, world organizations adopt a more nuanced position. A major UN agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "may even backfire". The organization points out that online platforms can be a "critical link" for marginalized children and that bans should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to improve child safeguards.

Even as this worldwide conversation unfolds, the actions of Australia and several other countries indicate that governments globally are increasingly willing to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.