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Australia's controversial policy to prohibit social platforms access for those under 16 is sending ripples internationally. Politicians, child protection groups, and families are monitoring intently to see if this approach will inspire imitation for other nations.

Across Europe Trend

Throughout Europe, a rising group of nations are exploring comparable measures.

• Denmark has announced a ban on social media for under-15s, with the leader arguing that mobile devices and platforms are "taking away our youngsters' childhood". The policy could be enacted soon.
• The Norwegian government is planning to introduce a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to protect children from the "power of the AI".
• Ireland is developing a online verification tool to verify the user details of social media users. The media minister have suggested that an Australian-model ban remains "a potential options on the table".
• In Spain, the leader has called on parliament to approve a proposal lifting the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has recommended a comparable move, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The government in the Netherlands has urged guardians to prevent their children from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has approved a advisory motion demanding a ban for minors except if parental consent is provided. While it warns of the "addictive" design of these apps, the move does not enact mandatory rules.

"An effective age barrier is a useful foundation," said one MEP behind the measure.

Britain: A Watchful Eye

Across Britain, the administration has kept open a possible ban, arguing that "no measure is off the table" but insisting any decision must be "supported by conclusive data".

Previously, interest built behind a legislative effort to introduce limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually modified. Nonetheless, the administration vowed to conduct more studies the topic.

Advocacy groups have voiced warnings. An organization established by the loved ones of a teenager who took her own life after encountering dangerous platform posts suggests that a simple age ban might not make platforms safer and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of harm when young people reach the legal age.

"This ban is a answer to the inability of the social media companies to build tools that are appropriate and suitable for young users," commented a influential peer.

The United States: A Decentralized Landscape

In the United States, regulation is largely occurring at the state level against a backdrop of federal inaction.

• The state of Utah mandates guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a law banning children under fourteen from joining social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a law limiting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with any further use requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also introduced measures requiring adult authorization for teenagers to set up social media presences.

Even with cross-party agreement and calls from some politicians to follow Australia's example, a nationwide ban is presently seen as improbable.

International Perspectives

Beyond the West, other nations are also taking action.

• Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• Brazil has raised the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

Yet, world agencies adopt a more measured stance. The UN children's agency has advised that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "may even backfire". The body points out that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for isolated young people and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to improve child safeguards.

While this international debate unfolds, the actions of this nation and its followers indicate that states internationally are no longer content to delay for tech companies to act voluntarily.