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The Australian controversial action to prohibit social media access for young people below 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Officials, campaigners, and guardians are observing with great interest to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

European Momentum

Throughout Europe, a rising group of states are considering parallel measures.

• The Danish government has announced a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the leader declaring that smartphones and platforms are "taking away our kids' innocence". The policy could be enacted in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is planning to enforce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to protect the young from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is developing a digital ID system to authenticate the user details of social media account holders. Authorities have stated that an similar ban remains "an tools under consideration".
• In Spain, the prime minister has called on the legislature to enact a bill lifting the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has recommended a comparable step, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The government in The Dutch government has recommended guardians to block their youngsters from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the EU parliament has passed a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 without a parent decides otherwise is given. Even though it highlights of the "compulsive" quality of these apps, the step does not enact binding law.

"An effective age restriction is a solid foundation," said the MEP supporting the initiative.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Stance

In the UK, the leadership has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "no option is discarded" but maintaining any action must be "grounded in robust data".

Last year, support gathered behind a proposal to enact limits on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately modified. Nonetheless, the administration pledged to further research the issue.

Campaign organizations have raised apprehensions. A prominent charity established by the loved ones of a girl who was lost after being exposed to harmful platform posts argues that a strict age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could create a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when users reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the refusal of the tech sector to design platforms and apps that are safe and suitable for minors," commented a leading child protection advocate.

America: A Fragmented Approach

Stateside, regulation is mostly unfolding at the regional level against a backdrop of national stalemate.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and controls overnight use.
• Florida has enacted a measure banning children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it faces court battles.
• Virginia has passed a law limiting teenagers to a single hour of social media access per day, with extra time dependent on a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted bills demanding guardian approval for under-16s to set up social media accounts.

Despite widespread concern and proposals from some politicians to copy this path, a nationwide ban is presently seen as unlikely.

Global Perspectives

Beyond these regions, further countries are likewise taking action.

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

However, world bodies strike a more cautious position. Unicef has cautioned that social media bans carry risks and "may even backfire". The body notes that social networks can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable young people and that government action should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to prioritize safety.

Even as this worldwide discussion unfolds, the policies of this nation and its followers show that policymakers around the world are less and less content to delay for tech companies to act voluntarily.