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The Australian controversial move to ban social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves worldwide. Politicians, safety advocates, and guardians are observing with great interest to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.

The European Momentum

In Europe, a rising chorus of countries are moving toward parallel bans.

• The Danish government plans a ban on social media for under-15s, with the PM declaring that mobile devices and networks are "stealing our youngsters' childhood". The policy is expected to be enacted in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is set to implement a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard young people from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is introducing a digital ID system to authenticate the identity and age of social media account holders. The media minister have stated that an similar ban remains "an tools under consideration".
• In Spain, the president has urged parliament to enact a law lifting the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has endorsed a similar step, including an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has recommended parents to restrict their children from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has approved a advisory motion supporting a ban for under-16s without parental consent is given. Even though it warns of the "addictive" quality of these apps, the resolution does not create mandatory rules.

"A strong age barrier is a useful foundation," said a leading European lawmaker supporting the initiative.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Eye

In the UK, the leadership has not ruled out a future ban, arguing that "nothing is off the table" but maintaining any decision must be "grounded in conclusive data".

Previously, interest built behind a legislative effort to impose restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end modified. Nonetheless, the administration vowed to investigate the topic.

Charities have raised concerns. A prominent charity founded by the loved ones of a teenager who died after being exposed to disturbing platform posts argues that a blanket age ban may not protect children and could create a "dangerous transition" of exposure when teens reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a response to the inability of the Silicon Valley to design platforms and apps that are secure and suitable for children," stated a leading peer.

The United States: A State-by-State Landscape

Stateside, regulation is mostly happening at the state government level amid national stalemate.

• Utah requires guardian permission for minors to use social media and controls late-night use.
• Florida has passed a law banning those below 14 from joining social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has approved a law restricting teenagers to a single hour of social media use per day, with additional time requiring a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed bills demanding parental consent for minors to create social media accounts.

Even with cross-party agreement and proposals from various politicians to mimic Australia's example, a US-wide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

Global Perspectives

Apart from Europe and the US, other countries are likewise taking action.

• Malaysia plans to prohibit social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has increased the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, global bodies adopt a more measured stance. The UN children's agency has warned that social media bans have downsides and "could have unintended consequences". The agency notes that social networks can be a "lifeline" for marginalized children and that government action should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to prioritize safety.

Even as this global discussion unfolds, the actions of Australia and several other countries show that policymakers around the world are no longer content to stand by for platforms to self-regulate.