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The Australian bold action to ban social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves around the globe. Politicians, child protection groups, and families are observing closely to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.

European Momentum

In Europe, a rising number of countries are exploring comparable restrictions.

• The Danish government has announced a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister declaring that phones and platforms are "stealing our kids' youth". The policy may be enacted in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to protect the young from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is introducing a digital ID system to authenticate the user details of social media users. Officials have indicated that an Australia-style ban remains "one of the tools on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the president has urged parliament to pass a proposal lifting the access age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has endorsed a related action, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has urged families to prevent their kids from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the EU parliament has passed a advisory motion calling for a ban for minors except if parental consent is given. Even though it highlights of the "habit-forming" nature of these apps, the step does not create enforceable legislation.

"A strong age limit is a useful first step," commented one MEP driving the resolution.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Eye

Across Britain, the administration has kept open a potential ban, arguing that "no option is discarded" but maintaining any decision must be "based on conclusive research".

Previously, support gathered behind a proposal to enact limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually modified. Instead, the administration committed to further research the issue.

Campaign organizations have expressed warnings. An organization set up by the relatives of a girl who was lost after being exposed to dangerous social media material contends that a simple age ban could fail to improve online safety and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of harm when teens become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a response to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to create tools that are secure and age appropriate for minors," commented a leading child protection advocate.

America: A State-by-State Landscape

Stateside, action is mostly occurring at the local level against a backdrop of national inaction.

• Utah mandates parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and limits late-night use.
• Florida has enacted a law prohibiting those below 14 from accessing social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• Virginia has enacted a law limiting teenagers to a single hour of social media use per day, with any further time dependent on a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly enacted bills demanding guardian approval for under-16s to set up social media profiles.

Despite bipartisan support and calls from some figures to copy the Australian path, a federal ban is currently seen as unlikely.

Global Perspectives

Beyond Europe and the US, additional countries are also exploring options.

• The Malaysian government plans to prohibit social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• Brazil has raised the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, international organizations strike a more nuanced tone. Unicef has advised that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "could prove counterproductive". The body highlights that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for marginalized children and that government action should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to invest in safety.

Even as this international conversation continues, the steps of this nation and others show that governments globally are less and less prepared to stand by for the industry to self-regulate.