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The nation's controversial policy to restrict social media access for those under 16 is sparking debate internationally. Officials, safety advocates, and guardians are watching closely to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for other nations.

The European Trend

Across Europe, a rising chorus of nations are exploring comparable bans.

• Denmark has stated a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader arguing that smartphones and networks are "robbing our kids' childhood". Legislation is expected to be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is set to introduce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to safeguard the young from the "influence of the AI".
• Ireland is introducing a digital wallet to confirm the user details of social media users. Authorities have suggested that an Australian-model ban could be "one of the measures under consideration".
• In Spain, the prime minister has called on lawmakers to enact a proposal lifting the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has recommended a comparable action, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The administration in The Dutch government has recommended parents to block their children from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has approved a advisory resolution calling for a ban for under-16s unless a parent decides otherwise is provided. Even though it cautions of the "compulsive" quality of these apps, the move does not enact binding law.

"A strong age barrier is a good starting point," commented the European lawmaker behind the initiative.

Britain: A Cautious Approach

Across Britain, the leadership has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "nothing is off the table" but insisting any policy must be "based on conclusive research".

Last year, interest gathered behind a legislative effort to impose restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually weakened. However, the government vowed to investigate the topic.

Campaign organizations have raised apprehensions. A prominent charity founded by the loved ones of a girl who was lost after encountering dangerous platform posts argues that a simple age ban could fail to improve online safety and could create a "cliff edge" of risk when young people turn 16.

"The Australian ban is a response to the failure of the social media companies to build products and services that are secure and age appropriate for children," commented a leading online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Fragmented Landscape

In the United States, regulation is largely happening at the state level amid federal gridlock.

• Utah demands adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and controls late-night use.
• Florida has enacted a bill prohibiting children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting under-16s to a single hour of social media use per day, with extra use dependent on adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed measures requiring adult authorization for minors to open social media accounts.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from certain figures to mimic this path, a federal ban is presently seen as improbable.

International Views

Apart from the West, additional states are similarly taking action.

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

However, global agencies adopt a more cautious stance. A major UN agency has warned that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "might have unintended consequences". The body notes that the internet can be a "lifeline" for isolated children and that bans should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to invest in child safeguards.

Even as this worldwide conversation continues, the steps of the Australian government and several other countries indicate that policymakers internationally are increasingly content to wait for the industry to self-regulate.