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The Australian bold move to ban social platforms access for those under 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Officials, campaigners, and guardians are monitoring closely to see if this tactic will set a precedent for other nations.

European Trend

Throughout Europe, a growing chorus of countries are considering similar bans.

• Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the leader arguing that phones and platforms are "taking away our youngsters' youth". Legislation may be enacted next year.
• Norway is planning to introduce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to protect the young from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is introducing a digital ID system to verify the age and identity of social media users. Authorities have suggested that an Australian-model ban remains "one of the measures on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged the legislature to enact a proposal lifting the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has recommended a related action, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The government in The Dutch government has recommended parents to block their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the EU parliament has adopted a advisory motion supporting a ban for under-16s except if guardian approval is provided. Although it highlights of the "compulsive" quality of these apps, the move does not create enforceable legislation.

"A strong age barrier is a useful starting point," stated one MEP driving the resolution.

The UK: A Cautious Stance

Across Britain, the government has remained open to a possible ban, stating that "no measure is discarded" but maintaining any decision must be "supported by conclusive research".

Last year, support grew behind a bill to introduce restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was eventually modified. Nonetheless, the government committed to conduct more studies the topic.

Advocacy groups have voiced warnings. An organization founded by the family of a girl who took her own life after encountering dangerous platform posts argues that a strict age ban might not improve online safety and could result in a "cliff edge" of risk when teens become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the failure of the tech sector to create platforms and apps that are appropriate and suitable for minors," said a leading child protection advocate.

The United States: A State-by-State Picture

Stateside, regulation is largely happening at the state level amid country-wide stalemate.

• Utah demands guardian permission for minors to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has passed a law banning under-14s from joining social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has passed a rule restricting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with additional use needing a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed bills requiring parental consent for teenagers to create social media presences.

Even with widespread concern and proposals from various politicians to copy the Australian path, a US-wide ban is right now seen as improbable.

Worldwide Outlook

Beyond Europe and the US, further nations are similarly exploring options.

• Malaysia plans to restrict social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

But, global agencies adopt a more measured tone. The UN children's agency has warned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "may even backfire". The agency highlights that social networks can be a "critical link" for vulnerable young people and that bans should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to prioritize safety.

Even as this worldwide discussion continues, the policies of this nation and its followers indicate that states internationally are no longer prepared to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.