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The Australian decisive move to prohibit social platforms access for those under 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Officials, campaigners, and guardians are watching intently to see if this approach will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Movement

Throughout Europe, a rising number of states are considering similar restrictions.

• Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister arguing that smartphones and platforms are "robbing our children's childhood". Legislation may be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is preparing to implement a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to protect children from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is introducing a online verification tool to verify the identity and age of social media participants. The media minister have indicated that an similar ban remains "a potential measures on the table".
• In Spain, the president has asked lawmakers to enact a proposal raising the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a related move, including an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in The Dutch government has recommended families to block their children from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has passed a advisory statement supporting a ban for minors without parental consent is granted. While it warns of the "compulsive" quality of these platforms, the resolution does not establish mandatory rules.

"A clear age restriction is a useful starting point," stated one European lawmaker driving the initiative.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Eye

In the UK, the government has kept open a potential ban, emphasizing that "no measure is discarded" but maintaining any decision must be "grounded in strong evidence".

Previously, momentum grew behind a proposal to introduce controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually watered down. Nonetheless, the administration committed to conduct more studies the matter.

Campaign organizations have raised concerns. An organization established by the loved ones of a teenager who was lost after viewing harmful platform posts suggests that a simple age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could create a "dangerous transition" of risk when teens become eligible.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the inability of the Silicon Valley to build tools that are safe and fit for children," stated a influential peer.

The United States: A Fragmented Landscape

In the United States, action is largely unfolding at the regional level amid federal stalemate.

• Utah requires adult approval for under-18s to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has signed a measure prohibiting those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a rule limiting minors to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with any further use requiring parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed laws requiring guardian approval for teenagers to set up social media profiles.

Despite widespread concern and proposals from certain politicians to follow Australia's lead, a US-wide ban is presently seen as unlikely.

Global Views

Beyond Europe and the US, other nations are also exploring options.

• Malaysia aims to ban social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has increased the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, world organizations strike a more nuanced stance. A major UN agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "might backfire". The organization notes that online platforms can be a "critical link" for isolated children and that government action should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to prioritize user protection.

Even as this worldwide debate continues, the policies of Australia and several other countries show that governments around the world are no longer content to stand by for tech companies to make changes on their own.