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The Australian decisive action to restrict social platforms access for young people below 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Officials, safety advocates, and families are observing with great interest to see if this tactic will become a template for other nations.

The European Momentum

Throughout Europe, a rising number of nations are considering similar bans.

• Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the leader declaring that smartphones and networks are "stealing our children's innocence". A law could be formalized soon.
• Norway is set to implement a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to protect young people from the "power of the algorithms".
• Ireland is developing a digital ID system to authenticate the user details of social media participants. Officials have stated that an Australian-model ban remains "an options on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has urged parliament to approve a proposal raising the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has recommended a similar step, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in The Netherlands has urged parents to restrict their kids from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has approved a symbolic motion supporting a ban for minors except if a parent decides otherwise is given. While it highlights of the "compulsive" design of these services, the move does not create enforceable legislation.

"A clear age restriction is a useful foundation," said one parliamentarian behind the measure.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Stance

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has kept open a future ban, arguing that "no option is off the table" but maintaining any decision must be "grounded in robust data".

Previously, momentum grew behind a proposal to introduce limits on social media use by minors, but it was eventually watered down. Instead, the government committed to investigate the issue.

Charities have voiced apprehensions. A prominent charity established by the family of a girl who died after encountering dangerous online content contends that a blanket age ban could fail to improve online safety and could lead to a "cliff edge" of harm when young people reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a answer to the inability of the social media companies to create tools that are secure and fit for minors," stated a leading child protection advocate.

America: A Fragmented Landscape

Across America, action is mostly unfolding at the state level amid national inaction.

• Utah demands adult approval for under-18s to use social media and limits late-night use.
• The state of Florida has passed a measure prohibiting under-14s from accessing social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has enacted a law restricting minors to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with any further use needing parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise introduced bills demanding parental consent for minors to open social media profiles.

Even with widespread concern and calls from certain figures to mimic this lead, a nationwide ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Views

Apart from these regions, other nations are similarly taking action.

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

Yet, international agencies adopt a more cautious position. Unicef has advised that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even prove counterproductive". The organization points out that social networks can be a "critical link" for marginalized children and that government action should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to improve user protection.

While this international debate unfolds, the steps of this nation and others show that policymakers internationally are no longer content to delay for tech companies to act voluntarily.