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Australia's controversial policy to ban social media access for young people below 16 is creating waves around the globe. Officials, child protection groups, and families are watching intently to see if this tactic will set a precedent for other nations.

Across Europe Trend

In Europe, a rising group of nations are exploring parallel bans.

• The Danish government has announced a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister declaring that smartphones and apps are "stealing our children's innocence". The policy is expected to be formalized in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is set to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to safeguard young people from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to authenticate the user details of social media participants. The media minister have suggested that an Australia-style ban remains "one of the options in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has called on parliament to pass a bill increasing the access age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has recommended a similar move, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in The Dutch government has advised guardians to restrict their children from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has passed a symbolic resolution demanding a ban for minors except if parental consent is given. Although it highlights of the "habit-forming" design of these apps, the move does not create enforceable legislation.

"A clear age limit is a useful first step," said one European lawmaker supporting the measure.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Stance

In the UK, the government has remained open to a future ban, arguing that "no option is discarded" but stressing any policy must be "supported by conclusive evidence".

Last year, momentum grew behind a legislative effort to enact controls on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately weakened. However, the government vowed to conduct more studies the matter.

Charities have voiced apprehensions. One foundation founded by the family of a girl who died after viewing harmful online content contends that a strict age ban might not protect children and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of harm when teens turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the inability of the tech sector to build tools that are secure and suitable for young users," stated a influential peer.

The United States: A State-by-State Approach

Stateside, action is largely occurring at the local level amid national gridlock.

• Utah demands parental consent for minors to use social media and controls overnight use.
• The state of Florida has passed a bill banning children under fourteen from joining social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a rule limiting minors to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with extra access requiring adult consent.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted measures mandating parental consent for teenagers to create social media profiles.

Despite widespread concern and calls from some individuals to follow this example, a nationwide ban is currently seen as improbable.

Global Perspectives

Apart from the West, other nations are similarly exploring options.

• Malaysia aims to restrict social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
• Brazil has lifted the access age for one major platform to 16.

However, world organizations strike a more cautious tone. The UN children's agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "may even prove counterproductive". The agency notes that online platforms can be a "critical link" for marginalized youth and that bans should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to invest in user protection.

While this global debate continues, the actions of Australia and several other countries demonstrate that governments internationally are no longer content to delay for platforms to self-regulate.