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The Australian bold move to ban social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves internationally. Lawmakers, campaigners, and parents are observing intently to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.

European Movement

In Europe, a growing chorus of states are considering parallel bans.

• Denmark plans a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the PM declaring that smartphones and apps are "stealing our youngsters' childhood". A law could be passed soon.
• The Norwegian government is set to implement a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard young people from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• Ireland is working on a digital ID system to authenticate the identity and age of social media account holders. Authorities have indicated that an similar ban remains "one of the tools on the table".
• In Spain, the president has asked lawmakers to approve a proposal lifting the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a related action, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has recommended parents to block their children from social media up to the age of 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has passed a non-binding motion demanding a ban for under-16s unless a parent decides otherwise is provided. Although it warns of the "addictive" nature of these platforms, the resolution does not create mandatory rules.

"An effective age restriction is a useful first step," stated a leading European lawmaker supporting the measure.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Approach

Across Britain, the government has kept open a possible ban, emphasizing that "nothing is off the table" but insisting any action must be "based on conclusive data".

Earlier, momentum built behind a legislative effort to impose controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end modified. Instead, the administration committed to further research the issue.

Campaign organizations have voiced warnings. One foundation founded by the relatives of a young person who died after being exposed to harmful online content argues that a strict age ban might not make platforms safer and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of risk when users reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a response to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to create platforms and apps that are secure and fit for young users," stated a leading peer.

America: A State-by-State Landscape

Stateside, action is mostly happening at the regional level amid federal stalemate.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and restricts late-night use.
• Florida has signed a bill prohibiting those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a regulation limiting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with additional access requiring a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise introduced laws demanding guardian approval for under-16s to open social media profiles.

Despite cross-party agreement and suggestions from some politicians to follow the Australian example, a federal ban is right now seen as improbable.

Worldwide Views

Outside of these regions, additional states are likewise considering moves.

• Malaysia plans to restrict social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• Brazil has raised the required age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, global agencies take a more measured tone. Unicef has warned that social media bans carry risks and "may even backfire". The organization notes that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for isolated children and that bans should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to prioritize safety.

While this international debate unfolds, the actions of the Australian government and others show that policymakers globally are less and less content to stand by for platforms to make changes on their own.