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The Australian bold policy to prohibit social platforms access for those under 16 is sending ripples internationally. Politicians, child protection groups, and parents are observing with great interest to see if this tactic will become a template for other nations.

European Momentum

Across Europe, a increasing chorus of nations are moving toward comparable restrictions.

• Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM arguing that mobile devices and networks are "stealing our children's innocence". A law could be passed 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 "influence of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is working on a digital wallet to authenticate the user details of social media account holders. Officials have indicated that an Australian-model ban remains "one of the measures on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has called on parliament to approve a law raising the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a similar action, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has advised families to prevent their youngsters from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the EU parliament has passed a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for under-16s unless guardian approval is given. Even though it warns of the "habit-forming" quality of these services, the resolution does not enact mandatory rules.

"An effective age limit is a useful starting point," said the European lawmaker supporting the initiative.

The UK: A Cautious Eye

In the UK, the leadership has kept open a future ban, emphasizing that "no option is being dismissed" but stressing any decision must be "based on robust research".

Earlier, support grew behind a legislative effort to introduce controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually modified. Nonetheless, the government vowed to investigate the topic.

Charities have raised concerns. An organization established by the loved ones of a teenager who was lost after being exposed to harmful platform posts suggests that a strict age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could result in a "cliff edge" of exposure when teens become eligible.

"This ban is a answer to the refusal of the tech sector to design platforms and apps that are safe and fit for young users," stated a influential peer.

The United States: A Decentralized Picture

In the United States, legislation is largely unfolding at the local level against a backdrop of federal stalemate.

• Utah mandates adult approval for under-18s to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• The state of Florida has passed a measure banning those below 14 from joining social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has approved a regulation limiting minors to a single hour of social media time per day, with any further access dependent on adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced measures demanding parental consent for teenagers to create social media profiles.

Despite cross-party agreement and proposals from certain individuals to follow this path, a federal ban is right now seen as improbable.

Worldwide Perspectives

Apart from Europe and the US, additional nations are similarly considering moves.

• The Malaysian government aims to ban social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has lifted the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, world agencies take a more cautious position. The UN children's agency has cautioned that social media bans carry risks and "might backfire". The organization points out that social networks can be a "critical link" for marginalized young people and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to invest in safety.

While this global discussion evolves, the policies of this nation and its followers indicate that states globally are increasingly willing to stand by for platforms to self-regulate.