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The nation's bold action to ban social media access for those under 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and families are monitoring with great interest to see if this approach will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

Across Europe Movement

Across Europe, a increasing chorus of states are exploring parallel restrictions.

• Denmark has stated a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister stating that mobile devices and apps are "taking away our youngsters' childhood". A law could be formalized next year.
• Norway is planning to implement a age restriction of 15, citing the need to protect children from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is working on a online verification tool to confirm the user details of social media users. The media minister have stated that an Australia-style ban could be "a potential tools under consideration".
• In Spain, the prime minister has called on the legislature to approve a law lifting the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has recommended a similar move, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in The Dutch government has recommended families to prevent their children from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has approved a advisory statement demanding a ban for minors without a parent decides otherwise is given. Although it warns of the "addictive" quality of these services, the step does not create binding law.

"An effective age barrier is a good foundation," said one MEP behind the measure.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the administration has kept open a future ban, stating that "no option is being dismissed" but maintaining any action must be "supported by strong research".

Earlier, momentum gathered behind a proposal to enact limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end watered down. Instead, the government committed to further research the topic.

Advocacy groups have raised warnings. A prominent charity set up by the family of a young person who died after encountering harmful online content contends that a simple age ban could fail to improve online safety and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of risk when teens reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a response to the inability of the social media companies to create tools that are secure and age appropriate for minors," said a leading peer.

America: A State-by-State Picture

Across America, regulation is largely occurring at the local level due to country-wide gridlock.

• The state of Utah mandates guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has passed a bill barring children under fourteen from joining social media, though it faces court battles.
• Virginia has approved a law restricting minors to one hour of social media use per day, with additional time dependent on adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise introduced measures demanding adult authorization for teenagers to create social media accounts.

Despite bipartisan support and proposals from various politicians to mimic the Australian path, a federal ban is presently seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Views

Beyond these regions, other nations are also exploring options.

• Malaysia intends to ban social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has lifted the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

But, world organizations strike a more nuanced tone. Unicef has advised that social media bans carry risks and "could have unintended consequences". The organization highlights that social networks can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable young people and that government action should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to invest in safety.

While this international conversation evolves, the steps of this nation and several other countries show that governments internationally are no longer prepared to wait for the industry to act voluntarily.