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The Australian bold move to ban social platforms access for those under 16 is sending ripples internationally. Officials, campaigners, and families are monitoring closely to see if this approach will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

European Trend

Throughout Europe, a increasing chorus of countries are exploring parallel restrictions.

• The Danish government has stated a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader arguing that mobile devices and apps are "robbing our kids' innocence". The policy could be formalized soon.
• Norway is planning to enforce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to protect young people from the "power of the AI".
• Ireland is introducing a digital wallet to verify the age and identity of social media users. The media minister have suggested that an similar ban is "one of the tools in reserve".
• In Spain, the leader has asked parliament to pass a proposal raising the access age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has endorsed a similar step, including an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in The Netherlands has recommended guardians to prevent their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has approved a advisory resolution calling for a ban for minors without guardian approval is granted. Even though it warns of the "habit-forming" nature of these apps, the move does not enact binding law.

"A strong age barrier is a solid starting point," stated a leading MEP behind the resolution.

The United Kingdom: A Watchful Eye

In the UK, the government has kept open a potential ban, stating that "no measure is discarded" but stressing any decision must be "based on strong evidence".

Previously, interest gathered behind a legislative effort to impose limits on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately modified. Nonetheless, the government vowed to further research the topic.

Campaign organizations have voiced apprehensions. An organization established by the loved ones of a teenager who was lost after being exposed to dangerous social media material argues that a simple age ban may not make platforms safer and could lead to a "cliff edge" of exposure when teens reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the failure of the social media companies to create products and services that are safe and fit for young users," commented a prominent online safety campaigner.

The US: A State-by-State Landscape

Stateside, legislation is mostly occurring at the regional level due to federal stalemate.

• Utah requires guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and controls overnight use.
• The state of Florida has signed a law banning those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has passed a rule restricting minors to a single hour of social media access per day, with additional use dependent on parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly introduced laws requiring parental consent for teenagers to create social media presences.

Despite widespread concern and suggestions from certain figures to mimic the Australian path, a federal ban is right now seen as improbable.

Worldwide Outlook

Beyond these regions, other countries are similarly taking action.

• Malaysia intends to restrict social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• Brazil has increased the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, global agencies strike a more nuanced stance. Unicef has cautioned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "may even backfire". The body notes that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable youth and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to prioritize user protection.

While this international discussion continues, the actions of this nation and several other countries demonstrate that states internationally are no longer willing to stand by for tech companies to self-regulate.