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The Australian bold move to ban social platforms access for those under 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Officials, campaigners, and guardians are monitoring intently to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.

European Trend

Throughout Europe, a growing group of countries are considering parallel measures.

• Denmark has stated a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister arguing that mobile devices and apps are "robbing our children's innocence". Legislation could be formalized soon.
• Norway is preparing to introduce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to shield children from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• Ireland is introducing a digital wallet to authenticate the user details of social media participants. The media minister have suggested that an similar ban could be "an tools under consideration".
• In Spain, the prime minister has called on the legislature to pass a proposal increasing the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has suggested a related step, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The government in The Netherlands has recommended families to block their children from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has adopted a non-binding motion demanding a ban for minors without parental consent is provided. Even though it highlights of the "addictive" nature of these services, the move does not create mandatory rules.

"A clear age limit is a good foundation," said the parliamentarian behind the measure.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Stance

In the UK, the leadership has remained open to a potential ban, emphasizing that "nothing is off the table" but stressing any decision must be "grounded in strong data".

Last year, support gathered behind a bill to enact limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually watered down. Nonetheless, the administration pledged to conduct more studies the topic.

Advocacy groups have expressed warnings. One foundation established by the family of a teenager who took her own life after encountering dangerous platform posts argues that a strict age ban may not make platforms safer and could create a "dangerous transition" of exposure when young people reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a response to the failure of the Silicon Valley to build tools that are safe and fit for minors," said a prominent peer.

The United States: A Fragmented Approach

Across America, action is largely occurring at the local government level due to country-wide stalemate.

• Utah requires guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and restricts late-night use.
• Florida has passed a law prohibiting under-14s from joining social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has passed a law capping under-16s to a single hour of social media use per day, with additional use dependent on a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced bills requiring guardian approval for under-16s to open social media presences.

Even with bipartisan support and suggestions from certain figures to copy the Australian lead, a federal ban is presently seen as unlikely.

International Outlook

Apart from Europe and the US, additional states are similarly considering moves.

• Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• Brazil has increased the required age for one major platform to 16.

However, international bodies strike a more measured position. The UN children's agency has warned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "may even prove counterproductive". The organization highlights that social networks can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable children and that bans should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to improve safety.

Even as this international discussion unfolds, the actions of this nation and several other countries indicate that governments internationally are less and less content to delay for the industry to self-regulate.