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The Australian decisive policy to restrict social platforms access for those under 16 is creating waves around the globe. Officials, safety advocates, and guardians are monitoring with great interest to see if this strategy will set a precedent for other nations.

European Momentum

Throughout Europe, a growing chorus of countries are moving toward similar restrictions.

• The Danish government plans a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the PM declaring that phones and apps are "taking away our children's childhood". A law may be passed next year.
• Norway is planning to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to shield young people from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is working on a digital wallet to verify the user details of social media users. The media minister have indicated that an Australia-style ban is "an tools under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has called on lawmakers to enact a proposal lifting the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has suggested a comparable action, including an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has urged guardians to block their children from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has approved a advisory motion demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 unless guardian approval is granted. While it cautions of the "habit-forming" nature of these services, the resolution does not enact enforceable legislation.

"A strong age restriction is a good first step," said the MEP supporting the resolution.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Eye

In the UK, the government has remained open to a future ban, stating that "no measure is off the table" but maintaining any action must be "supported by strong evidence".

Earlier, momentum grew behind a proposal to impose controls on social media use by minors, but it was in the end weakened. However, the government pledged to conduct more studies the issue.

Campaign organizations have voiced concerns. An organization established by the family of a teenager who was lost after being exposed to dangerous platform posts suggests that a blanket age ban might not improve online safety and could result in a "dangerous transition" of exposure when teens reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a response to the inability of the tech sector to design tools that are safe and suitable for young users," said a leading child protection advocate.

America: A State-by-State Landscape

In the United States, regulation is mostly happening at the state government level against a backdrop of country-wide gridlock.

• The state of Utah requires adult approval for under-18s to use social media and limits late-night use.
• The state of Florida has passed a law barring children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has passed a regulation restricting under-16s to a single hour of social media access per day, with additional time requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed measures demanding adult authorization for under-16s to open social media profiles.

Despite widespread concern and suggestions from certain politicians to copy this example, a nationwide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Global Views

Outside of these regions, additional nations are similarly taking action.

• The Malaysian government intends to prohibit social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• Brazil has increased the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, international bodies take a more nuanced tone. Unicef has warned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "might have unintended consequences". The organization highlights that the internet can be a "lifeline" for marginalized youth and that government action should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to invest in child safeguards.

Even as this global conversation continues, the steps of Australia and several other countries demonstrate that states internationally are no longer prepared to wait for the industry to make changes on their own.