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The Australian decisive action to prohibit social platforms access for those under 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Officials, safety advocates, and guardians are watching intently to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

The European Trend

Throughout Europe, a increasing group of states are considering similar measures.

• Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister arguing that mobile devices and networks are "taking away our kids' innocence". The policy may be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is preparing to implement a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to shield young people from the "power of the algorithms".
• Ireland is developing a digital wallet to confirm the user details of social media participants. Officials have stated that an Australia-style ban could be "one of the options on the table".
• In Spain, the president has called on lawmakers to enact a proposal increasing the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a similar step, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The government in The Netherlands has urged families to restrict their kids from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the EU parliament has passed a non-binding resolution demanding a ban for under-16s unless guardian approval is granted. Although it cautions of the "addictive" design of these apps, the step does not enact mandatory rules.

"A strong age limit is a useful foundation," stated the parliamentarian behind the resolution.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Stance

In the UK, the administration has kept open a future ban, stating that "no option is off the table" but maintaining any decision must be "grounded in conclusive evidence".

Last year, momentum built behind a proposal to introduce limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually weakened. Nonetheless, the government vowed to further research the matter.

Charities have voiced apprehensions. A prominent charity established by the relatives of a teenager who was lost after being exposed to harmful online content contends that a blanket age ban may not make platforms safer and could lead to a "cliff edge" of exposure when teens become eligible.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the inability of the Silicon Valley to create tools that are secure and age appropriate for children," stated a leading peer.

The United States: A Fragmented Landscape

Across America, action is primarily occurring at the regional government level against a backdrop of national inaction.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for minors to use social media and restricts late-night use.
• Florida has enacted a bill barring those below 14 from accessing social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a law limiting teenagers to one hour of social media use per day, with extra access needing adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise enacted bills demanding parental consent for under-16s to create social media accounts.

Even with widespread concern and proposals from various figures to copy Australia's path, a nationwide ban is currently seen as improbable.

Global Perspectives

Beyond the West, other states are similarly taking action.

• Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the required age for one major platform to 16.

However, international bodies adopt a more nuanced tone. A major UN agency has warned that social media bans pose dangers and "may even have unintended consequences". The body notes that social networks can be a "critical link" for isolated young people and that government action should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to invest in user protection.

As this international debate evolves, the policies of this nation and several other countries indicate that policymakers internationally are less and less willing to wait for the industry to self-regulate.