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Australia's controversial move to ban social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves worldwide. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and guardians are monitoring closely to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.

The European Momentum

Throughout Europe, a rising group of countries are considering comparable measures.

• Denmark plans a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the leader stating that phones and apps are "taking away our youngsters' childhood". The policy could be formalized soon.
• Norway is planning to implement a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to shield children from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is developing a digital wallet to verify the identity and age of social media participants. Officials have stated that an Australia-style ban is "a potential tools in reserve".
• In Spain, the leader has asked the legislature to enact a proposal raising the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has endorsed a related step, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The government in The Dutch government has recommended families to restrict their kids from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the EU parliament has adopted a advisory resolution supporting a ban for minors unless parental consent is provided. While it cautions of the "habit-forming" quality of these apps, the move does not create mandatory rules.

"A clear age barrier is a useful foundation," said the MEP supporting the measure.

The UK: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the administration has remained open to a future ban, arguing that "nothing is discarded" but maintaining any action must be "supported by conclusive data".

Previously, interest gathered behind a proposal to introduce controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end watered down. However, the government vowed to conduct more studies the topic.

Advocacy groups have voiced warnings. An organization set up by the relatives of a girl who took her own life after viewing disturbing online content contends that a simple age ban could fail to improve online safety and could result in a "cliff edge" of harm when young people turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the inability of the tech sector to design tools that are appropriate and age appropriate for children," commented a prominent child protection advocate.

The United States: A Decentralized Picture

Across America, action is largely occurring at the state level due to country-wide inaction.

• The state of Utah demands guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a bill barring under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has passed a regulation restricting teenagers to one hour of social media use per day, with any further use dependent on a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise enacted laws requiring adult authorization for under-16s to open social media accounts.

Despite cross-party agreement and proposals from certain individuals to follow Australia's lead, a nationwide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Perspectives

Apart from the West, further nations are similarly exploring options.

• Malaysia intends to ban social media for teenagers effective next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the access age for one major platform to 16.

However, global bodies take a more nuanced position. Unicef has advised that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "may even prove counterproductive". The organization notes that the internet can be a "critical link" for marginalized youth and that bans should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to prioritize user protection.

While this international discussion unfolds, the actions of Australia and several other countries show that governments around the world are less and less content to stand by for the industry to make changes on their own.