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The Australian controversial policy to ban social media access for those under 16 is sparking debate around the globe. Officials, safety advocates, and parents are monitoring intently to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.

The European Momentum

Throughout Europe, a increasing number of countries are exploring similar measures.

• Denmark plans a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister stating that phones and platforms are "stealing our kids' innocence". Legislation is expected to be passed next year.
• The Norwegian government is planning to enforce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard children from the "influence of the AI".
• Ireland is developing a digital ID system to confirm the age and identity of social media participants. The media minister have indicated that an Australian-model ban remains "a potential measures on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked lawmakers to pass a bill increasing the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has suggested a comparable move, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has urged parents to block their kids from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has approved a symbolic resolution demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 except if a parent decides otherwise is provided. Even though it warns of the "habit-forming" nature of these services, the step does not create enforceable legislation.

"A strong age barrier is a good foundation," said one parliamentarian driving the measure.

Britain: A Cautious Eye

Across Britain, the leadership has remained open to a potential ban, stating that "no measure is being dismissed" but insisting any policy must be "grounded in strong data".

Previously, interest gathered behind a bill to impose restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually modified. However, the government pledged to further research the issue.

Advocacy groups have raised apprehensions. One foundation set up by the loved ones of a teenager who took her own life after encountering harmful online content contends that a simple age ban might not make platforms safer and could create a "cliff edge" of harm when teens reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the failure of the Silicon Valley to create platforms and apps that are safe and age appropriate for children," commented a prominent online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Fragmented Picture

In the United States, legislation is mostly occurring at the local level against a backdrop of national inaction.

• Utah demands parental consent for minors to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has signed a bill barring those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting minors to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with any further time needing parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also enacted bills requiring parental consent for minors to create social media accounts.

Despite bipartisan support and calls from some figures to follow the Australian path, a US-wide ban is presently seen as improbable.

Worldwide Outlook

Outside of Europe and the US, further countries are likewise exploring options.

• The Malaysian government aims to restrict social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
• Brazil has increased the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, world organizations strike a more nuanced tone. The UN children's agency has warned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "might prove counterproductive". The organization points out that the internet can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable young people and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to invest in user protection.

Even as this international debate continues, the actions of the Australian government and others indicate that states internationally are increasingly prepared to wait for the industry to self-regulate.