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Australia's bold move to prohibit social platforms access for those under 16 is sparking debate internationally. Officials, safety advocates, and guardians are watching closely to see if this strategy will set a precedent for other nations.

The European Momentum

Across Europe, a increasing group of nations are considering parallel measures.

• The Danish government plans a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the PM declaring that phones and apps are "robbing our children's childhood". The policy may be passed next year.
• Norway is set to enforce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard the young from the "influence of the AI".
• Ireland is developing a digital ID system to verify the identity and age of social media account holders. Officials have suggested that an similar ban could be "an tools in reserve".
• In Spain, the president has asked parliament to enact a bill raising the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a comparable step, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has recommended families to block their children from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has adopted a advisory resolution supporting a ban for under-16s except if parental consent is provided. Although it warns of the "compulsive" quality of these apps, the step does not create enforceable legislation.

"A clear age barrier is a solid first step," said one MEP behind the initiative.

The UK: A Cautious Eye

In the UK, the administration has kept open a potential ban, emphasizing that "nothing is discarded" but insisting any action must be "supported by conclusive evidence".

Previously, momentum built behind a proposal to impose controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually modified. Nonetheless, the administration pledged to investigate the topic.

Campaign organizations have voiced concerns. One foundation set up by the loved ones of a young person who died after viewing dangerous social media material argues that a simple age ban might not improve online safety and could create a "dangerous transition" of exposure when teens become eligible.

"This ban is a reaction to the failure of the Silicon Valley to design products and services that are secure and suitable for minors," stated a influential online safety campaigner.

America: A State-by-State Approach

Across America, legislation is primarily happening at the state level against a backdrop of federal inaction.

• The state of Utah mandates parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has signed a measure prohibiting children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has passed a regulation capping minors to a single hour of social media use per day, with extra use needing parental permission.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise introduced bills mandating adult authorization for minors to open social media profiles.

Despite cross-party agreement and suggestions from various politicians to mimic the Australian path, a nationwide ban is currently seen as improbable.

Worldwide Views

Beyond the West, further states are also considering moves.

• Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for under-16s effective next year.
• Brazil has increased the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

But, global organizations strike a more measured position. The UN children's agency has advised that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "may even backfire". The organization highlights that social networks can be a "lifeline" for isolated youth and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to invest in safety.

As this worldwide conversation unfolds, the actions of Australia and several other countries indicate that governments around the world are no longer content to wait for platforms to self-regulate.