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Australia's controversial action to restrict social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples worldwide. Officials, campaigners, and guardians are watching closely to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

The European Movement

Across Europe, a growing number of countries are considering comparable bans.

• The Danish government has announced a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the leader declaring that smartphones and networks are "taking away our kids' childhood". The policy is expected to be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is set to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to shield children from the "influence of the AI".
• Ireland is developing a digital wallet to confirm the identity and age of social media account holders. The media minister have indicated that an similar ban is "an options in reserve".
• In Spain, the president has urged the legislature to approve a bill raising the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has endorsed a related move, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The administration in the Netherlands has advised parents to block their children from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has adopted a advisory resolution supporting a ban for minors except if parental consent is granted. Although it cautions of the "compulsive" quality of these services, the step does not enact binding law.

"An effective age limit is a solid first step," said one European lawmaker driving the resolution.

The UK: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the government has remained open to a potential ban, arguing that "no option is discarded" but insisting any policy must be "based on strong data".

Previously, interest gathered behind a bill to enact restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually modified. Instead, the administration vowed to conduct more studies the topic.

Charities have expressed warnings. An organization established by the loved ones of a girl who was lost after viewing disturbing social media material contends that a blanket age ban might not improve online safety and could result in a "cliff edge" of risk when teens turn 16.

"This ban is a reaction to the failure of the social media companies to build platforms and apps that are secure and suitable for minors," said a prominent online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Fragmented Picture

In the United States, action is mostly occurring at the regional government level amid federal inaction.

• The state of Utah requires guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and restricts late-night use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a law prohibiting children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has passed a regulation limiting teenagers to a single hour of social media access per day, with additional use dependent on a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced measures demanding guardian approval for minors to open social media profiles.

Even with widespread concern and calls from some figures to copy Australia's lead, a nationwide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

Global Views

Apart from Europe and the US, further states are also taking action.

• Malaysia intends to ban social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the required age for Instagram to 16.

However, world bodies adopt a more measured tone. The UN children's agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "could have unintended consequences". The agency highlights that social networks can be a "lifeline" for marginalized children and that bans should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to improve user protection.

As this global conversation continues, the policies of the Australian government and several other countries demonstrate that governments internationally are increasingly prepared to stand by for tech companies to act voluntarily.