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The Australian bold action to prohibit social platforms access for those under 16 is sending ripples internationally. Lawmakers, campaigners, and guardians are watching with great interest to see if this tactic will set a precedent for other nations.

The European Movement

Throughout Europe, a rising group of countries are considering comparable restrictions.

• Denmark plans a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister declaring that mobile devices and apps are "stealing our children's youth". Legislation could be formalized in the coming year.
• Norway is planning to introduce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to safeguard children from the "power of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to authenticate the identity and age of social media participants. Authorities have stated that an similar ban could be "a potential tools in reserve".
• In Spain, the prime minister has called on lawmakers to enact a law increasing the access age for joining 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 recommended a related action, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The administration in The Dutch government has advised guardians to restrict their kids from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has adopted a advisory motion calling for a ban for minors unless guardian approval is provided. Even though it highlights of the "habit-forming" nature of these apps, the step does not enact enforceable legislation.

"An effective age restriction is a solid foundation," commented one European lawmaker driving the measure.

Britain: A Cautious Eye

For the United Kingdom, the government has kept open a potential ban, arguing that "no option is discarded" but maintaining any decision must be "grounded in conclusive research".

Earlier, momentum grew behind a bill to introduce restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end watered down. Nonetheless, the administration vowed to further research the matter.

Campaign organizations have expressed apprehensions. An organization founded by the relatives of a teenager who took her own life after viewing harmful platform posts argues that a simple age ban could fail to protect children and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of risk when teens become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the inability of the Silicon Valley to create products and services that are safe and suitable for young users," commented a leading peer.

The United States: A Fragmented Approach

Stateside, regulation is primarily happening at the regional level amid country-wide inaction.

• The state of Utah demands guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and limits late-night use.
• Florida has passed a law barring under-14s from joining social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• Virginia has enacted a rule restricting teenagers to one hour of social media access per day, with additional time needing a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed laws mandating parental consent for minors to create social media presences.

Even with bipartisan support and proposals from certain individuals to mimic the Australian example, a US-wide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

Global Perspectives

Outside of the West, further states are similarly exploring options.

• Malaysia plans to ban social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has increased the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, international agencies adopt a more cautious stance. Unicef has warned that social media bans pose dangers and "might prove counterproductive". The agency points out that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable young people and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to improve child safeguards.

Even as this international debate continues, the policies of the Australian government and others indicate that governments around the world are less and less content to wait for platforms to self-regulate.