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Australia's decisive policy to prohibit social platforms access for young people below 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and families are monitoring intently to see if this approach will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

European Movement

Across Europe, a growing number of nations are considering similar restrictions.

• Denmark plans a ban on social media for under-15s, with the leader declaring that phones and networks are "taking away our children's youth". A law could be formalized in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is planning to implement a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to shield the young from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is working on a online verification tool to authenticate the identity and age of social media participants. The media minister have suggested that an similar ban is "a potential tools in reserve".
• In Spain, the president has asked lawmakers to enact a law increasing the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has suggested a related move, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in the Netherlands has urged families to restrict their kids from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has approved a advisory statement calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 unless guardian approval is provided. Although it highlights of the "compulsive" quality of these services, the move does not enact mandatory rules.

"A strong age barrier is a good first step," said the parliamentarian behind the initiative.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Stance

In the UK, the government has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "nothing is discarded" but stressing any policy must be "supported by conclusive evidence".

Previously, momentum gathered behind a proposal to impose controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end weakened. Instead, the administration vowed to investigate the issue.

Charities have expressed concerns. One foundation established by the loved ones of a teenager who took her own life after being exposed to harmful online content argues that a simple age ban may not improve online safety and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of risk when teens become eligible.

"This ban is a reaction to the inability of the tech sector to build tools that are appropriate and age appropriate for minors," commented a influential peer.

America: A Decentralized Picture

Stateside, action is mostly happening at the local level due to country-wide gridlock.

• Utah demands adult approval for under-18s to use social media and controls overnight use.
• Florida has enacted a measure banning those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a regulation restricting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with extra time requiring adult consent.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly introduced laws requiring guardian approval for under-16s to open social media accounts.

Despite cross-party agreement and suggestions from certain individuals to copy the Australian path, a federal ban is presently seen as improbable.

International Views

Beyond these regions, further states are similarly exploring options.

• Malaysia aims to restrict social media for under-16s effective next year.
• Brazil has raised the access age for one major platform to 16.

But, global organizations take a more measured tone. The UN children's agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "might backfire". The organization notes that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable young people and that bans should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to invest in safety.

Even as this international debate unfolds, the steps of the Australian government and several other countries indicate that policymakers globally are less and less content to delay for tech companies to act voluntarily.