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The Australian decisive move to restrict social platforms access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Lawmakers, campaigners, and parents are monitoring with great interest to see if this strategy will become a template for other nations.

European Trend

Across Europe, a growing number of nations are exploring comparable bans.

• Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the PM stating that mobile devices and apps are "stealing our kids' youth". The policy could be formalized in the coming year.
• Norway is preparing to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to safeguard the young from the "power of the AI".
• Ireland is working on a online verification tool to verify the age and identity of social media users. Officials have indicated that an Australian-model ban is "a potential options under consideration".
• In Spain, the leader has called on the legislature to approve a bill lifting the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the president has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has suggested a similar step, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has advised guardians to block their youngsters from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has approved a advisory resolution demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 unless a parent decides otherwise is given. Even though it cautions of the "addictive" nature of these services, the move does not establish binding law.

"A strong age barrier is a good starting point," commented the parliamentarian behind the measure.

The UK: A Watchful Eye

For the United Kingdom, the government has remained open to a potential ban, stating that "nothing is off the table" but maintaining any action must be "grounded in strong research".

Previously, momentum built behind a legislative effort to introduce limits on social media use by minors, but it was eventually weakened. Nonetheless, the government vowed to investigate the matter.

Campaign organizations have expressed concerns. An organization set up by the relatives of a girl who died after viewing harmful online content argues that a blanket age ban could fail to protect children and could create a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when users reach the legal age.

"This ban is a response to the failure of the tech sector to design products and services that are secure and fit for young users," commented a influential online safety campaigner.

America: A State-by-State Picture

Across America, regulation is primarily happening at the regional level amid federal gridlock.

• Utah requires guardian permission for minors to use social media and controls overnight use.
• Florida has enacted a bill barring children under fourteen from joining social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has passed a regulation capping minors to one hour of social media access per day, with extra use needing adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly enacted measures mandating guardian approval for teenagers to open social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and suggestions from various individuals to copy Australia's path, a US-wide ban is presently seen as improbable.

Global Outlook

Apart from the West, other nations are also exploring options.

• Malaysia intends to ban social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the required age for one major platform to 16.

However, global organizations strike a more cautious position. A major UN agency has cautioned that social media bans carry risks and "could prove counterproductive". The body points out that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for isolated children and that government action should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to improve safety.

As this global discussion continues, the policies of the Australian government and others indicate that policymakers globally are increasingly prepared to wait for the industry to self-regulate.