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Australia's decisive policy to ban social platforms access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Officials, campaigners, and families are monitoring with great interest to see if this approach will set a precedent for countries abroad.

European Movement

Across Europe, a rising chorus of states are considering similar bans.

• Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the leader stating that phones and networks are "robbing our kids' youth". A law could be passed soon.
• Norway is set to introduce a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to shield young people from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is developing a digital ID system to verify the age and identity of social media account holders. The media minister have stated that an similar ban could be "an tools under consideration".
• In Spain, the president has asked parliament to pass a bill raising the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a related move, including an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in The Dutch government has urged guardians to restrict their children from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the EU parliament has adopted a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 except if parental consent is granted. Even though it highlights of the "compulsive" design of these apps, the move does not establish enforceable legislation.

"A clear age barrier is a useful first step," stated one MEP behind the initiative.

The UK: A Cautious Eye

Across Britain, the leadership has remained open to a potential ban, stating that "nothing is discarded" but stressing any decision must be "supported by strong research".

Earlier, momentum grew behind a proposal to enact limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately weakened. Nonetheless, the government committed to further research the matter.

Campaign organizations have raised warnings. One foundation founded by the loved ones of a teenager who took her own life after being exposed to harmful online content suggests that a simple age ban may not improve online safety and could lead to a "cliff edge" of risk when teens become eligible.

"This ban is a reaction to the inability of the Silicon Valley to create products and services that are secure and age appropriate for children," commented a leading online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Decentralized Approach

In the United States, legislation is primarily occurring at the state government level against a backdrop of federal gridlock.

• Utah demands parental consent for under-18s to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a measure prohibiting under-14s from joining social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• Virginia has passed a rule limiting teenagers to a single hour of social media time per day, with additional access requiring a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted laws mandating guardian approval for under-16s to open social media presences.

Despite widespread concern and proposals from various individuals to mimic the Australian path, a US-wide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

Global Perspectives

Apart from these regions, further nations are likewise taking action.

• Malaysia aims to restrict social media for under-16s effective next year.
• Brazil has increased the required age for Instagram to 16.

However, global agencies strike a more nuanced stance. A major UN agency has advised that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "could prove counterproductive". The body notes that social networks can be a "lifeline" for marginalized youth and that bans should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to improve child safeguards.

Even as this worldwide debate continues, the steps of the Australian government and its followers indicate that states globally are no longer content to wait for platforms to act voluntarily.