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The Australian bold policy to ban social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples internationally. Politicians, safety advocates, and parents are monitoring closely to see if this tactic will set a precedent for other nations.

The European Momentum

In Europe, a growing chorus of countries are exploring parallel measures.

• Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister declaring that phones and platforms are "stealing our youngsters' childhood". The policy may be enacted next year.
• Norway is preparing to introduce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to shield young people from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is working on a online verification tool to confirm the identity and age of social media account holders. The media minister have suggested that an Australian-model ban remains "one of the options on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has called on the legislature to enact a law increasing the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has endorsed a related move, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has urged guardians to prevent their kids from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has adopted a non-binding motion demanding a ban for minors except if a parent decides otherwise is provided. Even though it cautions of the "compulsive" quality of these platforms, the step does not establish binding law.

"A strong age limit is a good starting point," said one European lawmaker supporting the measure.

The United Kingdom: A Watchful Stance

For the United Kingdom, the administration has kept open a potential ban, emphasizing that "nothing is off the table" but insisting any policy must be "based on conclusive data".

Previously, momentum built behind a legislative effort to introduce limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end modified. Nonetheless, the administration vowed to conduct more studies the matter.

Campaign organizations have voiced apprehensions. A prominent charity founded by the relatives of a teenager who was lost after being exposed to dangerous platform posts suggests that a strict age ban could fail to protect children and could create a "dangerous transition" of exposure when users turn 16.

"This ban is a reaction to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to build platforms and apps that are appropriate and suitable for minors," said a leading online safety campaigner.

The US: A State-by-State Approach

Across America, legislation is largely occurring at the state government level against a backdrop of national stalemate.

• Utah demands adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and restricts late-night use.
• Florida has signed a measure barring under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• Virginia has passed a regulation capping under-16s to a single hour of social media access per day, with additional use dependent on adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced laws mandating guardian approval for teenagers to open social media profiles.

Despite widespread concern and suggestions from some politicians to copy Australia's example, a federal ban is currently seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Perspectives

Outside of the West, additional states are likewise exploring options.

• Malaysia intends to restrict social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has lifted the access age for one major platform to 16.

But, international bodies take a more measured stance. Unicef has advised that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "might backfire". The organization notes that social networks can be a "vital connection" for marginalized youth and that government action should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to improve user protection.

As this international conversation continues, the actions of this nation and several other countries indicate that states globally are less and less willing to wait for tech companies to self-regulate.