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Australia's decisive action to prohibit social platforms access for those under 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Politicians, safety advocates, and parents are watching closely to see if this approach will set a precedent for other nations.

The European Trend

Throughout Europe, a growing number of countries are moving toward parallel measures.

• Denmark plans a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the PM arguing that mobile devices and apps are "stealing our kids' innocence". The policy may be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is planning to implement a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to shield children from the "manipulative force of the AI".
• Ireland is introducing a digital ID system to authenticate the identity and age of social media users. The media minister have stated that an Australia-style ban remains "an options under consideration".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked parliament to enact a bill lifting the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has suggested a related step, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has urged families to restrict their children from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has approved a advisory motion demanding a ban for under-16s except if parental consent is granted. Even though it highlights of the "addictive" quality of these apps, the resolution does not enact binding law.

"A strong age limit is a good starting point," said the European lawmaker behind the initiative.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Approach

For the United Kingdom, the administration has kept open a possible ban, stating that "no option is discarded" but maintaining any action must be "supported by conclusive data".

Last year, momentum grew behind a legislative effort to introduce restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately weakened. Nonetheless, the government pledged to further research the issue.

Advocacy groups have expressed concerns. An organization established by the relatives of a teenager who was lost after encountering harmful social media material contends that a blanket age ban could fail to improve online safety and could lead to a "cliff edge" of risk when young people turn 16.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the failure of the social media companies to build products and services that are appropriate and suitable for young users," commented a prominent child protection advocate.

The United States: A Decentralized Approach

Across America, action is primarily occurring at the state level amid national stalemate.

• Utah mandates adult approval for under-18s to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a bill barring under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a rule capping teenagers to one hour of social media access per day, with any further access dependent on parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted measures mandating parental consent for minors to create social media profiles.

Even with widespread concern and calls from certain politicians to copy Australia's example, a federal ban is currently seen as unlikely.

Global Views

Outside of Europe and the US, additional countries are likewise taking action.

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

But, world bodies strike a more cautious tone. A major UN agency has advised that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "could prove counterproductive". The body highlights that the internet can be a "vital connection" for isolated young people and that government action should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to improve child safeguards.

Even as this international debate evolves, the policies of this nation and its followers demonstrate that governments globally are less and less content to delay for the industry to make changes on their own.