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The Australian controversial policy to prohibit social platforms access for young people below 16 is creating waves around the globe. Officials, safety advocates, and parents are watching closely to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for other nations.

The European Movement

Across Europe, a growing group of states are exploring similar restrictions.

• The Danish government has stated a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM stating that smartphones and apps are "taking away our kids' childhood". Legislation is expected to be enacted next year.
• Norway is preparing to introduce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to shield children from the "power of the algorithms".
• Ireland is working on a digital ID system to confirm the age and identity of social media users. Authorities have indicated that an Australian-model ban could be "an measures in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has urged parliament to approve a bill lifting the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has recommended a comparable action, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has recommended guardians to prevent their youngsters from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has approved a advisory resolution demanding a ban for under-16s without guardian approval is provided. While it highlights of the "compulsive" quality of these apps, the resolution does not create binding law.

"A strong age restriction is a useful foundation," stated one MEP behind the initiative.

The UK: A Watchful Stance

For the United Kingdom, the administration has kept open a possible ban, stating that "no option is off the table" but insisting any action must be "based on strong evidence".

Earlier, momentum built behind a legislative effort to introduce restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was in the end watered down. However, the government committed to conduct more studies the topic.

Charities have expressed apprehensions. An organization founded by the relatives of a teenager who died after encountering disturbing social media material contends that a simple age ban may not make platforms safer and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when young people turn 16.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the failure of the tech sector to create products and services that are safe and suitable for minors," said a influential online safety campaigner.

America: A Fragmented Approach

In the United States, legislation is primarily happening at the state level against a backdrop of federal inaction.

• Utah mandates parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and limits late-night use.
• Florida has signed a measure banning children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a rule limiting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with any further use dependent on parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced bills mandating parental consent for under-16s to open social media accounts.

Despite cross-party agreement and calls from certain individuals to mimic the Australian lead, a federal ban is presently seen as improbable.

Worldwide Outlook

Apart from the West, other nations are likewise taking action.

• Malaysia aims to ban social media for under-16s effective next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has lifted the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, international agencies adopt a more nuanced stance. A major UN agency has advised that social media bans carry risks and "may even prove counterproductive". The body notes that online platforms can be a "critical link" for vulnerable youth and that bans should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to improve user protection.

As this global debate unfolds, the policies of this nation and its followers demonstrate that governments globally are no longer prepared to delay for tech companies to self-regulate.