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Australia's bold move to restrict social media access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples around the globe. Officials, campaigners, and guardians are monitoring closely to see if this tactic will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Movement

Throughout Europe, a growing chorus of states are moving toward parallel measures.

• Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader declaring that mobile devices and platforms are "robbing our youngsters' innocence". The policy could be passed soon.
• Norway is planning to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to protect children from the "power of the AI".
• Ireland is introducing a digital ID system to authenticate the user details of social media users. Officials have stated that an Australian-model ban remains "an tools on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has asked the legislature to enact a bill lifting the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a related step, including an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The government in The Dutch government has urged families to restrict their youngsters from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the EU parliament has passed a symbolic statement calling for a ban for minors except if a parent decides otherwise is granted. Even though it cautions of the "compulsive" nature of these services, the move does not enact enforceable legislation.

"A strong age barrier is a useful starting point," commented a leading MEP behind the measure.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Eye

In the UK, the leadership has not ruled out a future ban, arguing that "no option is off the table" but maintaining any decision must be "grounded in strong data".

Earlier, support gathered behind a proposal to introduce limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually weakened. Instead, the government vowed to investigate the topic.

Campaign organizations have voiced apprehensions. An organization founded by the family of a teenager who died after viewing disturbing platform posts contends that a blanket age ban might not make platforms safer and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of harm when young people turn 16.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to design platforms and apps that are appropriate and fit for children," commented a influential peer.

The United States: A Decentralized Landscape

Across America, action is largely happening at the local level amid national gridlock.

• Utah demands parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a bill barring those below 14 from joining social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has enacted a law capping under-16s to a single hour of social media time per day, with additional access dependent on a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly passed bills requiring parental consent for teenagers to set up social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and suggestions from some politicians to copy this lead, a nationwide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Outlook

Beyond the West, further countries are similarly exploring options.

• The Malaysian government plans to ban social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
• Brazil has increased the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, international bodies take a more cautious position. Unicef has advised that social media bans carry risks and "may even backfire". The organization notes that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable young people and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to improve user protection.

As this worldwide conversation unfolds, the steps of Australia and others demonstrate that states globally are less and less willing to delay for platforms to act voluntarily.