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Australia's bold policy to prohibit social platforms access for young people below 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Politicians, safety advocates, and families are observing closely to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

European Trend

Throughout Europe, a rising group of nations are exploring similar restrictions.

• Denmark plans a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister stating that smartphones and platforms are "robbing our youngsters' childhood". A law may be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is preparing to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to protect the young from the "influence of the AI".
• Ireland is developing a digital ID system to authenticate the identity and age of social media users. Authorities have indicated that an Australian-model ban could be "an tools on the table".
• In Spain, the president has urged parliament to enact a bill raising the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has endorsed a related step, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has advised parents to block their kids from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has adopted a non-binding motion supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 without a parent decides otherwise is provided. Even though it cautions of the "habit-forming" nature of these apps, the step does not create binding law.

"A strong age restriction is a useful first step," said the MEP driving the initiative.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Eye

For the United Kingdom, the government has remained open to a possible ban, emphasizing that "no measure is off the table" but stressing any decision must be "grounded in conclusive data".

Previously, support grew behind a bill to enact controls on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately watered down. Nonetheless, the administration vowed to further research the issue.

Charities have raised apprehensions. A prominent charity set up by the relatives of a girl who died after viewing harmful social media material suggests that a blanket age ban may not make platforms safer and could result in a "dangerous transition" of exposure when teens reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a answer to the refusal of the social media companies to build tools that are appropriate and suitable for children," stated a influential online safety campaigner.

The US: A State-by-State Approach

Stateside, regulation is mostly occurring at the regional level amid national gridlock.

• The state of Utah demands adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• Florida has passed a measure prohibiting those below 14 from joining social media, though it faces court battles.
• Virginia has approved a rule restricting under-16s to one hour of social media time per day, with extra access requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced bills mandating parental consent for under-16s to create social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and suggestions from some individuals to copy this path, a nationwide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Global Outlook

Apart from the West, further nations are also considering moves.

• Malaysia intends to ban social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• Brazil has increased the required age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, global bodies take a more measured tone. The UN children's agency has warned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "could have unintended consequences". The body notes that the internet can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable young people and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to prioritize child safeguards.

Even as this international debate continues, the actions of the Australian government and its followers demonstrate that governments globally are no longer prepared to delay for the industry to self-regulate.