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The Australian controversial action to prohibit social media access for individuals under sixteen is sparking debate around the globe. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and families are monitoring intently to see if this approach will become a template for other nations.

Across Europe Trend

Throughout Europe, a increasing group of states are considering similar bans.

• The Danish government has announced a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister declaring that mobile devices and networks are "robbing our children's childhood". A law is expected to be passed in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is planning to implement a access barrier of 15, citing the need to safeguard children from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is introducing a digital ID system to confirm the identity and age of social media participants. The media minister have suggested that an similar ban remains "one of the options under consideration".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked lawmakers to enact a law lifting the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a similar step, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The government in The Dutch government has recommended parents to prevent their kids from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has adopted a symbolic statement demanding a ban for under-16s except if a parent decides otherwise is granted. Even though it highlights of the "addictive" design of these platforms, the move does not enact binding law.

"A clear age barrier is a good first step," said one MEP driving the resolution.

Britain: A Cautious Approach

In the UK, the government has remained open to a future ban, arguing that "no measure is off the table" but insisting any action must be "based on strong research".

Last year, interest built behind a proposal to impose controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end weakened. Nonetheless, the government committed to investigate the matter.

Charities have voiced apprehensions. An organization set up by the loved ones of a teenager who took her own life after encountering disturbing platform posts contends that a simple age ban might not improve online safety and could create a "dangerous transition" of exposure when teens reach the legal age.

"This ban is a reaction to the inability of the social media companies to design platforms and apps that are secure and age appropriate for children," said a leading online safety campaigner.

America: A Fragmented Picture

Stateside, legislation is primarily unfolding at the state level against a backdrop of federal gridlock.

• Utah requires parental consent for under-18s to use social media and controls late-night use.
• Florida has enacted a measure barring under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has approved a law limiting teenagers to one hour of social media time per day, with additional time requiring adult consent.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed bills requiring adult authorization for teenagers to set up social media profiles.

Even with cross-party agreement and proposals from various figures to mimic the Australian path, a nationwide ban is currently seen as improbable.

Worldwide Perspectives

Apart from Europe and the US, further states are also exploring options.

• Malaysia intends to ban social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
• Brazil has raised the access age for one major platform to 16.

However, world organizations strike a more measured position. The UN children's agency has advised that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "could backfire". The agency highlights that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for isolated children and that government action should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to invest in child safeguards.

As this international conversation continues, the actions of Australia and several other countries demonstrate that states around the world are no longer prepared to delay for platforms to self-regulate.