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The Australian bold move to prohibit social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples worldwide. Politicians, safety advocates, and families are watching intently to see if this approach will set a precedent for countries abroad.

Across Europe Trend

Across Europe, a growing group of nations are exploring parallel bans.

• Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the leader stating that mobile devices and apps are "robbing our children's innocence". Legislation is expected to be passed soon.
• Norway is preparing to enforce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard children from the "influence of the AI".
• Ireland is introducing a digital wallet to verify the age and identity of social media participants. The media minister have indicated that an similar ban could be "one of the tools in reserve".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged the legislature to enact a law increasing the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a comparable move, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has advised families to block their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has passed a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 unless guardian approval is given. Although it cautions of the "addictive" design of these platforms, the step does not enact binding law.

"An effective age restriction is a useful foundation," said one MEP driving the initiative.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Approach

Across Britain, the administration has kept open a potential ban, arguing that "no option is being dismissed" but maintaining any action must be "grounded in strong data".

Previously, interest built behind a bill to impose limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately watered down. However, the government pledged to conduct more studies the matter.

Campaign organizations have expressed apprehensions. An organization established by the relatives of a young person who was lost after viewing harmful social media material contends that a simple age ban may not make platforms safer and could create a "dangerous transition" of risk when users become eligible.

"This ban is a reaction to the failure of the Silicon Valley to build platforms and apps that are safe and suitable for young users," stated a influential peer.

The United States: A State-by-State Picture

In the United States, legislation is primarily unfolding at the state government level against a backdrop of country-wide stalemate.

• Utah requires parental consent for minors to use social media and limits late-night use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a measure banning under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• Virginia has enacted a regulation capping minors to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with any further use dependent on adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also passed laws requiring guardian approval for minors to set up social media presences.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from certain figures to mimic Australia's lead, a nationwide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Views

Apart from Europe and the US, further states are similarly considering moves.

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

But, global agencies adopt a more cautious tone. A major UN agency has warned that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "could backfire". The body notes that social networks can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable young people and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to prioritize user protection.

As this international conversation evolves, the actions of Australia and others demonstrate that governments around the world are increasingly content to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.