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Australia's bold policy to restrict social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is sparking debate worldwide. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and families are watching with great interest to see if this approach will inspire imitation for other nations.

Across Europe Momentum

Across Europe, a growing number of states are considering similar measures.

• Denmark has stated a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the leader stating that smartphones and apps are "robbing our kids' youth". Legislation is expected to be formalized soon.
• Norway is planning to introduce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to protect young people from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to verify the age and identity of social media participants. Authorities have suggested that an similar ban could be "a potential options in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the president has urged the legislature to pass a bill raising the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a comparable move, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in The Netherlands has urged families to prevent their children from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has passed a advisory statement supporting a ban for minors except if parental consent is granted. Even though it warns of the "addictive" nature of these apps, the resolution does not enact mandatory rules.

"An effective age barrier is a good foundation," said the European lawmaker behind the measure.

The UK: A Watchful Approach

For the United Kingdom, the government has remained open to a possible ban, stating that "no option is being dismissed" but insisting any action must be "supported by conclusive research".

Earlier, support gathered behind a bill to impose controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end modified. Nonetheless, the administration pledged to further research the topic.

Campaign organizations have raised warnings. A prominent charity set up by the loved ones of a girl who died after viewing dangerous social media material suggests that a simple age ban might not improve online safety and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of risk when users become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a answer to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to design platforms and apps that are safe and fit for young users," stated a influential online safety campaigner.

The US: A Decentralized Landscape

Stateside, action is largely occurring at the local level amid federal inaction.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for minors to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a bill barring children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has approved a regulation capping under-16s to a single hour of social media time per day, with additional access needing parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly enacted measures mandating parental consent for teenagers to create social media profiles.

Even with cross-party agreement and proposals from some politicians to copy the Australian path, a federal ban is right now seen as improbable.

Worldwide Outlook

Apart from the West, other states are likewise exploring options.

• The Malaysian government intends to prohibit social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
• Brazil has raised the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

But, global agencies take a more cautious position. Unicef has advised that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "might prove counterproductive". The body points out that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable children and that bans should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to improve safety.

As this international discussion evolves, the actions of the Australian government and its followers indicate that states around the world are no longer willing to wait for tech companies to self-regulate.