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Australia's decisive action to prohibit social media access for those under 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Officials, child protection groups, and parents are monitoring closely to see if this approach will become a template for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Movement

In Europe, a growing number of states are moving toward comparable measures.

• Denmark has announced a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the leader stating that mobile devices and platforms are "taking away our children's youth". A law is expected to be formalized soon.
• Norway is preparing to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to protect young people from the "power of the AI".
• Ireland is developing a digital ID system to authenticate the user details of social media users. The media minister have suggested that an Australia-style ban is "one of the options under consideration".
• In Spain, the leader has urged lawmakers to approve a proposal raising the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a related step, including an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The government in The Netherlands has urged guardians to prevent their children from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has approved a symbolic motion calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 unless parental consent is provided. Although it highlights of the "addictive" nature of these services, the step does not establish enforceable legislation.

"An effective age limit is a useful foundation," stated a leading European lawmaker supporting the resolution.

The United Kingdom: A Watchful Eye

In the UK, the leadership has remained open to a possible ban, emphasizing that "no measure is being dismissed" but stressing any decision must be "grounded in robust data".

Last year, interest grew behind a legislative effort to impose controls on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately modified. Nonetheless, the government committed to conduct more studies the topic.

Charities have expressed concerns. An organization established by the family of a girl who was lost after viewing dangerous platform posts argues that a simple age ban might not protect children and could result in a "dangerous transition" of harm when teens reach the legal age.

"This ban is a reaction to the failure of the social media companies to create products and services that are safe and age appropriate for children," stated a influential child protection advocate.

The United States: A State-by-State Approach

Stateside, regulation is mostly unfolding at the regional level due to federal stalemate.

• Utah demands guardian permission for minors to use social media and limits overnight use.
• Florida has signed a bill barring under-14s from accessing social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has passed a law capping teenagers to one hour of social media time per day, with any further use requiring adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced measures requiring parental consent for teenagers to open social media presences.

Despite cross-party agreement and suggestions from certain figures to copy Australia's lead, a federal ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

Global Outlook

Apart from Europe and the US, additional states are likewise taking action.

• Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has lifted the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

However, world organizations strike a more cautious tone. Unicef has warned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "could prove counterproductive". The organization highlights that social networks can be a "critical link" for vulnerable children and that bans should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to invest in safety.

As this international debate continues, the actions of this nation and its followers indicate that states around the world are no longer willing to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.