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Australia's decisive policy to ban social platforms access for those under 16 is creating waves worldwide. Officials, child protection groups, and guardians are watching closely to see if this approach will become a template for countries abroad.

The European Trend

Throughout Europe, a increasing group of countries are moving toward similar measures.

• The Danish government has stated a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister stating that smartphones and networks are "robbing our youngsters' innocence". A law may be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is planning to implement a access barrier of 15, citing the need to safeguard the young from the "power of the AI".
• The Irish government is introducing a digital wallet to authenticate the identity and age of social media users. The media minister have indicated that an Australia-style ban could be "one of the measures under consideration".
• In Spain, the leader has urged the legislature to pass a proposal raising the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a related step, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has recommended guardians to restrict their children from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has adopted a non-binding resolution demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 unless parental consent is granted. Although it highlights of the "habit-forming" design of these services, the resolution does not create mandatory rules.

"An effective age limit is a solid first step," stated the European lawmaker driving the resolution.

The United Kingdom: A Watchful Eye

Across Britain, the administration has not ruled out a future ban, emphasizing that "no option is off the table" but maintaining any decision must be "grounded in conclusive evidence".

Earlier, momentum built behind a legislative effort to enact limits on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately weakened. Instead, the government committed to further research the matter.

Advocacy groups have voiced concerns. A prominent charity founded by the relatives of a teenager who was lost after viewing dangerous social media material contends that a simple age ban might not make platforms safer and could create a "dangerous transition" of exposure when teens reach the legal age.

"This ban is a answer to the inability of the social media companies to create platforms and apps that are secure and age appropriate for children," stated a leading child protection advocate.

America: A Fragmented Approach

Stateside, action is mostly unfolding at the local level due to national inaction.

• Utah requires guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• Florida has signed a measure banning under-14s from joining social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has approved a regulation limiting minors to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with additional access needing a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly passed measures mandating guardian approval for minors to set up social media presences.

Despite bipartisan support and suggestions from some politicians to mimic this lead, a US-wide ban is currently seen as improbable.

International Views

Outside of Europe and the US, further states are likewise considering moves.

• Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for teenagers effective next year.
• Brazil has increased the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

However, international bodies adopt a more cautious position. The UN children's agency has advised that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "might have unintended consequences". The organization points out that social networks can be a "critical link" for vulnerable children and that government action should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to invest in user protection.

Even as this worldwide conversation evolves, the policies of the Australian government and its followers indicate that states around the world are increasingly content to delay for tech companies to make changes on their own.