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Australia's decisive policy to ban social platforms access for those under 16 is creating waves internationally. Lawmakers, campaigners, and families are monitoring intently to see if this tactic will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

The European Movement

Throughout Europe, a rising number of states are moving toward comparable bans.

• Denmark plans a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM declaring that smartphones and networks are "taking away our youngsters' youth". Legislation could be passed soon.
• Norway is set to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to protect children from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to confirm the identity and age of social media account holders. Authorities have indicated that an similar ban is "a potential tools on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has urged lawmakers to approve a bill lifting the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a related step, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in The Dutch government has urged families to block their kids from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has passed a symbolic resolution supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 except if parental consent is granted. Although it warns of the "addictive" quality of these platforms, the move does not create binding law.

"A clear age restriction is a good starting point," stated one European lawmaker behind the measure.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Stance

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has not ruled out a possible ban, emphasizing that "nothing is discarded" but stressing any policy must be "based on conclusive evidence".

Earlier, support gathered behind a bill to impose controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually weakened. Instead, the government pledged to further research the topic.

Charities have expressed apprehensions. An organization established by the family of a young person who was lost after encountering disturbing online content contends that a simple age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could create a "sudden drop-off" of risk when young people reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a response to the refusal of the social media companies to design tools that are safe and fit for minors," stated a leading child protection advocate.

The US: A Decentralized Landscape

In the United States, action is largely occurring at the state level against a backdrop of country-wide gridlock.

• The state of Utah requires adult approval for minors to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a bill prohibiting children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a law restricting minors to a single hour of social media access per day, with any further use needing adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also passed measures mandating guardian approval for teenagers to open social media presences.

Even with widespread concern and proposals from certain politicians to follow this lead, a US-wide ban is currently seen as unlikely.

International Views

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

• Malaysia aims to restrict social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• Brazil has increased the required age for one major platform to 16.

However, international organizations take a more measured tone. The UN children's agency has advised that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "could have unintended consequences". The organization points out that the internet can be a "critical link" for vulnerable children and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to improve child safeguards.

Even as this worldwide discussion evolves, the steps of the Australian government and others show that governments internationally are no longer prepared to delay for platforms to self-regulate.