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The Australian decisive move to prohibit social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples internationally. Officials, campaigners, and families are watching closely to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

Across Europe Movement

Across Europe, a rising group of countries are considering similar bans.

• Denmark plans a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister declaring that mobile devices and apps are "taking away our kids' childhood". The policy is expected to be formalized in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to implement a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to protect the young from the "influence of the algorithms".
• Ireland is developing a online verification tool to authenticate the user details of social media account holders. Authorities have indicated that an Australian-model ban could be "one of the measures in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has called on parliament to enact a proposal raising the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has suggested a similar move, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The administration in The Netherlands has recommended guardians to block their youngsters from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the EU parliament has approved a symbolic statement calling for a ban for under-16s without a parent decides otherwise is provided. Even though it highlights of the "habit-forming" quality of these platforms, the step does not create binding law.

"An effective age barrier is a useful foundation," commented a leading MEP driving the measure.

The United Kingdom: A Watchful Eye

In the UK, the administration has not ruled out a future ban, emphasizing that "no option is off the table" but stressing any policy must be "grounded in conclusive evidence".

Previously, support gathered behind a legislative effort to impose restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually modified. Instead, the administration vowed to further research the topic.

Advocacy groups have raised apprehensions. One foundation set up by the family of a teenager who was lost after viewing dangerous online content suggests that a simple age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of risk when teens become eligible.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the refusal of the tech sector to design platforms and apps that are safe and age appropriate for children," commented a prominent online safety campaigner.

America: A Decentralized Picture

Stateside, legislation is primarily unfolding at the state level due to federal inaction.

• Utah requires guardian permission for minors to use social media and controls late-night use.
• The state of Florida has passed a law barring children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a law limiting minors to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with additional use requiring a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed measures mandating parental consent for minors to set up social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and calls from certain politicians to follow Australia's lead, a federal ban is right now seen as improbable.

International Perspectives

Beyond the West, additional countries are similarly considering moves.

• The Malaysian government plans to ban social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the required age for Instagram to 16.

However, international agencies adopt a more cautious tone. A major UN agency has advised that social media bans carry risks and "may even prove counterproductive". The organization points out that the internet can be a "critical link" for vulnerable children and that bans should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to invest in safety.

Even as this international discussion unfolds, the actions of this nation and several other countries indicate that governments around the world are increasingly content to wait for the industry to act voluntarily.