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The Australian decisive action to ban social platforms access for those under 16 is creating waves worldwide. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and families are observing closely to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Movement

In Europe, a growing group of countries are moving toward comparable measures.

• Denmark has announced a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the PM arguing that smartphones and platforms are "taking away our children's childhood". Legislation may be enacted soon.
• The Norwegian government is set to implement a age restriction of 15, citing the need to protect the young from the "manipulative force of the AI".
• The Irish government is working on a digital wallet to confirm the user details of social media participants. Authorities have stated that an Australia-style ban could be "an measures under consideration".
• In Spain, the leader has called on parliament to enact a proposal raising the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a similar step, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has advised parents to block their youngsters from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the EU parliament has passed a advisory motion supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 unless a parent decides otherwise is provided. Although it cautions of the "compulsive" nature of these services, the move does not create enforceable legislation.

"A clear age restriction is a solid first step," said one parliamentarian behind the measure.

The UK: A Watchful Eye

In the UK, the leadership has remained open to a possible ban, emphasizing that "no measure is being dismissed" but insisting any decision must be "grounded in robust research".

Earlier, interest built behind a legislative effort to impose limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end modified. Nonetheless, the government pledged to further research the issue.

Campaign organizations have voiced concerns. A prominent charity set up by the relatives of a teenager who took her own life after encountering disturbing platform posts suggests that a strict age ban might not make platforms safer and could result in a "dangerous transition" of risk when users become eligible.

"This ban is a answer to the failure of the Silicon Valley to build platforms and apps that are appropriate and age appropriate for children," said a influential online safety campaigner.

The US: A Fragmented Approach

Stateside, action is primarily happening at the local level amid federal gridlock.

• The state of Utah requires parental consent for under-18s to use social media and restricts late-night use.
• Florida has signed a bill banning under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with extra time needing a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced measures requiring guardian approval for minors to open social media accounts.

Despite bipartisan support and calls from some politicians to copy this path, a federal ban is currently seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Perspectives

Apart from these regions, additional states are likewise considering moves.

• The Malaysian government plans to ban social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• Brazil has lifted the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, world organizations adopt a more nuanced stance. A major UN agency has warned that social media bans have downsides and "might backfire". The organization highlights that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for isolated children and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to prioritize safety.

Even as this international debate unfolds, the policies of this nation and its followers show that states internationally are no longer willing to delay for tech companies to make changes on their own.