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Australia's bold action to prohibit social platforms access for those under 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and guardians are watching closely to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

European Trend

In Europe, a growing number of nations are exploring parallel bans.

• Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM arguing that smartphones and networks are "robbing our children's youth". Legislation may be formalized in the coming year.
• Norway is set to implement a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard the young from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the age and identity of social media participants. Authorities have indicated that an similar ban remains "an options on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has called on parliament to pass a bill raising the legal age for accessing 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 "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The government in The Netherlands has urged parents to prevent their kids from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has adopted a non-binding motion calling for a ban for minors except if guardian approval is granted. Even though it warns of the "habit-forming" quality of these services, the step does not create binding law.

"An effective age restriction is a useful starting point," stated a leading European lawmaker driving the measure.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Approach

For the United Kingdom, the administration has kept open a future ban, arguing that "no option is discarded" but stressing any decision must be "grounded in robust evidence".

Previously, interest grew behind a legislative effort to enact restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually weakened. However, the administration vowed to conduct more studies the topic.

Campaign organizations have voiced concerns. A prominent charity founded by the relatives of a young person who died after viewing harmful online content suggests that a simple age ban may not make platforms safer and could create a "dangerous transition" of harm when young people become eligible.

"Australia's ban is a response to the inability of the Silicon Valley to create platforms and apps that are secure and suitable for young users," said a leading child protection advocate.

America: A Decentralized Landscape

Stateside, legislation is largely happening at the regional government level due to country-wide gridlock.

• The state of Utah mandates parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and controls overnight use.
• The state of Florida has passed a measure prohibiting those below 14 from joining social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has passed a rule capping minors to a single hour of social media time per day, with any further use needing adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed measures mandating guardian approval for minors to create social media profiles.

Even with bipartisan support and calls from some politicians to mimic Australia's example, a federal ban is currently seen as improbable.

International Perspectives

Beyond these regions, additional nations are likewise considering moves.

• Malaysia plans to ban social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
• Brazil has raised the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, international bodies adopt a more nuanced tone. The UN children's agency has advised that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "could have unintended consequences". The organization highlights that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable youth and that government action should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to prioritize child safeguards.

Even as this global debate unfolds, the steps of this nation and several other countries show that governments globally are no longer prepared to delay for platforms to self-regulate.