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Australia's controversial move to prohibit social platforms access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Politicians, child protection groups, and families are monitoring closely to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

The European Trend

Across Europe, a growing group of countries are moving toward parallel restrictions.

• Denmark plans a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister declaring that mobile devices and apps are "taking away our youngsters' childhood". Legislation may be enacted next year.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to safeguard the young from the "influence of the AI".
• Ireland is introducing a digital wallet to confirm the age and identity of social media participants. Officials have indicated that an similar ban could be "a potential options on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged parliament to enact a proposal lifting the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a comparable step, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The government in The Dutch government has recommended parents to prevent their children from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has passed a advisory resolution supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 unless guardian approval is granted. Even though it warns of the "addictive" quality of these apps, the move does not create mandatory rules.

"A clear age limit is a good foundation," commented one MEP driving the initiative.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Approach

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has kept open a possible ban, emphasizing that "no measure is discarded" but maintaining any policy must be "based on robust data".

Previously, support gathered behind a legislative effort to impose restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was eventually modified. Nonetheless, the administration pledged to investigate the issue.

Campaign organizations have voiced apprehensions. An organization established by the loved ones of a teenager who was lost after being exposed to harmful online content suggests that a strict age ban may not protect children and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of risk when young people reach the legal age.

"This ban is a response to the refusal of the social media companies to build products and services that are appropriate and suitable for young users," commented a leading online safety campaigner.

The United States: A State-by-State Landscape

In the United States, action is largely unfolding at the state level due to national stalemate.

• The state of Utah requires guardian permission for minors to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• Florida has signed a bill prohibiting children under fourteen from joining social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has passed a law restricting teenagers to a single hour of social media use per day, with any further use dependent on adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise introduced laws mandating guardian approval for minors to set up social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and suggestions from various individuals to copy Australia's lead, a US-wide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Perspectives

Outside of the West, additional nations are also exploring options.

• Malaysia plans to restrict social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has lifted the required age for one major platform to 16.

Yet, international agencies adopt a more nuanced stance. The UN children's agency has cautioned that social media bans pose dangers and "could backfire". The body highlights that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable children and that bans should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to prioritize child safeguards.

Even as this worldwide conversation continues, the actions of Australia and several other countries indicate that governments around the world are less and less prepared to stand by for the industry to make changes on their own.