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The Australian decisive action to prohibit social platforms access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Politicians, child protection groups, and families are observing intently to see if this approach will become a template for countries abroad.

European Trend

In Europe, a rising chorus of nations are considering similar bans.

• The Danish government plans a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister stating that phones and platforms are "robbing our youngsters' childhood". Legislation could be formalized in the coming year.
• Norway is planning to implement a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to shield young people from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is working on a digital wallet to verify the user details of social media participants. Officials have stated that an Australian-model ban remains "one of the measures in reserve".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged lawmakers to pass a bill raising the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a related action, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The government in The Netherlands has recommended families to restrict their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has adopted a symbolic statement demanding a ban for minors unless parental consent is given. Even though it cautions of the "addictive" nature of these apps, the step does not establish binding law.

"A clear age limit is a solid foundation," said the MEP supporting the measure.

Britain: A Cautious Stance

Across Britain, the administration has not ruled out a possible ban, emphasizing that "nothing is off the table" but maintaining any decision must be "grounded in conclusive research".

Last year, interest built behind a proposal to enact limits on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately modified. Nonetheless, the administration vowed to further research the issue.

Charities have raised concerns. One foundation set up by the relatives of a teenager who died after encountering disturbing platform posts contends that a simple age ban may not make platforms safer and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of exposure when young people turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to design tools that are secure and fit for children," commented a leading online safety campaigner.

The United States: A State-by-State Landscape

Across America, legislation is mostly unfolding at the regional government level due to federal stalemate.

• Utah mandates adult approval for under-18s to use social media and controls overnight use.
• Florida has signed a law barring under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has passed a law capping teenagers to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with any further time requiring adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise enacted measures requiring adult authorization for under-16s to open social media profiles.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from some figures to copy Australia's path, a nationwide ban is right now seen as improbable.

Worldwide Views

Outside of Europe and the US, additional countries are similarly exploring options.

• Malaysia aims to ban social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• Brazil has lifted the access age for one major platform to 16.

But, international bodies take a more cautious tone. Unicef has cautioned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even have unintended consequences". The agency highlights that social networks can be a "critical link" for marginalized young people and that bans should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to prioritize safety.

While this worldwide discussion unfolds, the actions of this nation and several other countries show that governments around the world are less and less prepared to stand by for platforms to self-regulate.