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The Australian controversial move to ban social media access for young people below 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and guardians are monitoring with great interest to see if this approach will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Trend

In Europe, a increasing group of countries are exploring parallel measures.

• The Danish government plans a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister declaring that mobile devices and apps are "robbing our kids' innocence". A law may be passed soon.
• Norway is planning to enforce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard the young from the "power of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is introducing a online verification tool to confirm the identity and age of social media users. Officials have stated that an Australia-style ban is "a potential tools on the table".
• In Spain, the president has urged parliament to enact a proposal raising the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has recommended a comparable action, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The government in The Netherlands has advised guardians to prevent their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has adopted a symbolic statement supporting a ban for minors unless a parent decides otherwise is given. Even though it cautions of the "compulsive" quality of these platforms, the resolution does not enact binding law.

"An effective age barrier is a solid foundation," commented a leading European lawmaker behind the measure.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Eye

For the United Kingdom, the government has kept open a potential ban, stating that "no measure is being dismissed" but maintaining any policy must be "grounded in robust research".

Earlier, support gathered behind a bill to introduce restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was eventually weakened. However, the government vowed to investigate the matter.

Charities have raised concerns. An organization established by the relatives of a girl who was lost after viewing disturbing online content argues that a blanket age ban might not make platforms safer and could result in a "dangerous transition" of exposure when young people become eligible.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the inability of the Silicon Valley to design tools that are safe and suitable for young users," stated a leading online safety campaigner.

The US: A State-by-State Approach

In the United States, action is largely happening at the local level amid national gridlock.

• Utah demands parental consent for under-18s to use social media and controls overnight use.
• The state of Florida has signed a law barring children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a regulation limiting minors to a single hour of social media access per day, with any further use dependent on a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted measures mandating adult authorization for under-16s to create social media presences.

Despite bipartisan support and proposals from some politicians to mimic the Australian example, a federal ban is presently seen as improbable.

International Outlook

Beyond these regions, other states are similarly considering moves.

• The Malaysian government plans to prohibit social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• Brazil has raised the access age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, international agencies strike a more cautious tone. A major UN agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "might have unintended consequences". The organization notes that online platforms can be a "critical link" for isolated children and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to improve child safeguards.

While this worldwide discussion continues, the actions of Australia and its followers show that states internationally are increasingly content to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.