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The Australian bold policy to prohibit social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is sparking debate worldwide. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and guardians are watching closely to see if this tactic will set a precedent for countries abroad.

European Movement

Across Europe, a growing number of states are considering comparable restrictions.

• Denmark plans a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister arguing that phones and apps are "stealing our children's innocence". A law could be enacted in the coming year.
• Norway is planning to implement a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to shield young people from the "influence of the AI".
• Ireland is working on a digital wallet to confirm the user details of social media users. Officials have indicated that an Australian-model ban is "one of the measures under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has asked lawmakers to pass a bill raising the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has endorsed a related step, including an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The administration in The Netherlands has urged guardians to prevent their youngsters from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has adopted a symbolic motion demanding a ban for minors unless parental consent is granted. While it cautions of the "compulsive" nature of these apps, the resolution does not enact binding law.

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

The United Kingdom: A Watchful Stance

Across Britain, the leadership has kept open a possible ban, stating that "nothing is being dismissed" but insisting any action must be "based on robust research".

Last year, support grew behind a legislative effort to introduce restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately watered down. Instead, the government vowed to further research the issue.

Campaign organizations have voiced apprehensions. An organization established by the family of a teenager who took her own life after viewing dangerous social media material suggests that a simple age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could lead to a "cliff edge" of exposure when young people become eligible.

"Australia's ban is a response to the inability of the Silicon Valley to design products and services that are appropriate and suitable for children," stated a influential peer.

The United States: A Fragmented Picture

Across America, action is largely happening at the regional government level due to country-wide inaction.

• Utah requires adult approval for under-18s to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has passed a measure barring those below 14 from joining social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a law limiting under-16s to a single hour of social media time per day, with any further time requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced laws demanding parental consent for minors to set up social media accounts.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from some politicians to mimic Australia's path, a federal ban is currently seen as improbable.

International Perspectives

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

• Malaysia plans to prohibit social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

However, international organizations strike a more measured tone. A major UN agency has warned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "may even prove counterproductive". The agency points out that social networks can be a "critical link" for marginalized young people and that government action should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to prioritize child safeguards.

As this global debate continues, the steps of Australia and several other countries show that states around the world are less and less content to wait for the industry to make changes on their own.