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The Australian decisive policy to ban social platforms access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and parents are watching closely to see if this approach will inspire imitation for other nations.

The European Movement

In Europe, a increasing chorus of countries are considering similar measures.

• The Danish government has announced a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister stating that smartphones and networks are "stealing our kids' childhood". A law may be enacted next year.
• Norway is preparing to implement a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard the young from the "influence of the algorithms".
• Ireland is developing a digital wallet to authenticate the user details of social media participants. The media minister have stated that an Australian-model ban remains "one of the tools under consideration".
• In Spain, the president has urged the legislature to enact a proposal lifting the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the president has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has suggested a comparable move, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The administration in The Dutch government has urged parents to block their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has passed a symbolic motion demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 except if guardian approval is granted. While it cautions of the "habit-forming" quality of these apps, the resolution does not create binding law.

"An effective age limit is a good starting point," stated a leading MEP behind the resolution.

Britain: A Watchful Stance

For the United Kingdom, the administration has kept open a possible ban, stating that "no measure is off the table" but stressing any decision must be "supported by robust data".

Last year, momentum gathered behind a legislative effort to enact restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was eventually watered down. However, the administration vowed to investigate the matter.

Advocacy groups have expressed apprehensions. One foundation established by the relatives of a girl who was lost after viewing disturbing social media material contends that a simple age ban might not make platforms safer and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of harm when users become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a answer to the failure of the tech sector to build platforms and apps that are appropriate and fit for minors," stated a prominent peer.

The US: A Decentralized Picture

Across America, legislation is largely happening at the regional level due to federal inaction.

• Utah demands guardian permission for minors to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• Florida has signed a law barring those below 14 from accessing social media, though it faces court battles.
• Virginia has enacted a rule capping minors to a single hour of social media time per day, with extra time needing parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced bills demanding parental consent for under-16s to set up social media profiles.

Despite bipartisan support and proposals from some individuals to follow Australia's lead, a US-wide ban is presently seen as improbable.

Global Views

Beyond these regions, other nations are similarly taking action.

• Malaysia aims to restrict social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
• Brazil has increased the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, international agencies strike a more measured stance. Unicef has advised that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "could prove counterproductive". The agency highlights that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for marginalized young people and that bans should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to improve safety.

As this worldwide discussion evolves, the steps of Australia and others indicate that policymakers around the world are no longer prepared to wait for platforms to self-regulate.