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Australia's bold move to ban social platforms access for young people below 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Officials, safety advocates, and parents are monitoring closely to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Trend

In Europe, a growing chorus of nations are moving toward similar measures.

• Denmark plans 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". Legislation could be formalized soon.
• The Norwegian government is planning to implement a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to shield the young from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to verify the age and identity of social media account holders. Authorities have stated that an Australia-style ban could be "one of the tools in reserve".
• In Spain, the president has urged the legislature to enact a bill raising the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the president has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a similar action, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The government in The Netherlands has urged families to restrict their children from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has passed a symbolic motion supporting a ban for under-16s without parental consent is provided. Even though it cautions of the "habit-forming" design of these apps, the step does not establish mandatory rules.

"A strong age restriction is a solid foundation," said the European lawmaker behind the measure.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Approach

For the United Kingdom, the administration has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "no option is being dismissed" but stressing any action must be "based on conclusive research".

Previously, momentum built behind a proposal to enact restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately weakened. Instead, the government pledged to further research the issue.

Advocacy groups have expressed concerns. A prominent charity set up by the family of a girl who was lost after encountering dangerous platform posts argues that a simple age ban might not protect children and could result in a "dangerous transition" of harm when teens reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the failure of the tech sector to build platforms and apps that are appropriate and fit for children," commented a prominent child protection advocate.

America: A State-by-State Picture

In the United States, regulation is mostly occurring at the state level due to country-wide gridlock.

• Utah demands adult approval for minors to use social media and limits late-night use.
• Florida has signed a bill banning under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has passed a law limiting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with additional time dependent on parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly enacted laws demanding parental consent for teenagers to open social media profiles.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from various politicians to copy this lead, a US-wide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

International Perspectives

Outside of these regions, other nations are likewise considering moves.

• Malaysia plans to ban social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

However, world bodies take a more cautious stance. Unicef has cautioned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "could backfire". The body highlights that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for marginalized children and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to improve safety.

While this worldwide debate unfolds, the policies of the Australian government and several other countries show that policymakers globally are no longer content to delay for platforms to act voluntarily.