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Australia's bold move to prohibit social platforms access for young people below 16 is creating waves internationally. Officials, safety advocates, and guardians are watching with great interest to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

Across Europe Trend

Across Europe, a growing chorus of nations are moving toward similar bans.

• Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister declaring that mobile devices and networks are "stealing our children's youth". The policy could be enacted in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is set to enforce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard young people from the "influence of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is introducing a online verification tool to verify the identity and age of social media participants. Authorities have stated that an Australia-style ban is "a potential options under consideration".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged parliament to pass a law raising the access age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has endorsed a similar action, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has recommended parents to restrict their children from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has passed a non-binding statement calling for a ban for under-16s without a parent decides otherwise is granted. While it warns of the "compulsive" quality of these apps, the resolution does not enact binding law.

"A strong age restriction is a solid first step," stated the European lawmaker behind the measure.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the administration has kept open a potential ban, arguing that "nothing is off the table" but stressing any decision must be "grounded in robust research".

Earlier, interest gathered behind a legislative effort to introduce restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was eventually modified. Instead, the administration committed to investigate the issue.

Advocacy groups have voiced apprehensions. A prominent charity founded by the family of a young person who took her own life after being exposed to disturbing platform posts suggests that a blanket age ban might not improve online safety and could result in a "dangerous transition" of exposure when young people reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the refusal of the tech sector to create tools that are safe and fit for young users," commented a influential peer.

The US: A State-by-State Landscape

In the United States, action is mostly occurring at the regional level amid country-wide stalemate.

• Utah requires adult approval for minors to use social media and limits overnight use.
• Florida has enacted a measure prohibiting under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has approved a regulation capping minors to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with extra use dependent on a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise introduced laws requiring parental consent for under-16s to create social media profiles.

Despite widespread concern and calls from some politicians to mimic Australia's lead, a federal ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

International Outlook

Beyond the West, additional countries are similarly considering moves.

• The Malaysian government plans to restrict social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has increased the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, world bodies adopt a more nuanced stance. The UN children's agency has cautioned that social media bans carry risks and "might backfire". The organization highlights that the internet can be a "vital connection" for isolated youth and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to invest in safety.

As this global debate evolves, the actions of the Australian government and several other countries indicate that states around the world are less and less willing to wait for the industry to act voluntarily.