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The Australian bold action to restrict social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves worldwide. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and guardians are observing with great interest to see if this tactic will set a precedent for countries abroad.

European Movement

Across Europe, a growing number of countries are considering comparable measures.

• The Danish government has stated a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the PM declaring that smartphones and apps are "stealing our children's childhood". Legislation is expected to be formalized in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is set to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to protect the young from the "power of the algorithms".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the identity and age of social media participants. Officials have suggested that an Australian-model ban remains "one of the tools in reserve".
• In Spain, the president has urged the legislature to enact a bill increasing the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has endorsed a comparable action, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in The Dutch government has urged parents to restrict their children from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has passed a advisory motion calling for a ban for minors except if parental consent is given. Although it highlights of the "compulsive" nature of these services, the step does not enact binding law.

"A clear age barrier is a useful foundation," stated a leading parliamentarian behind the measure.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Eye

In the UK, the government has remained open to a possible ban, stating that "nothing is off the table" but stressing any decision must be "grounded in conclusive data".

Previously, support built behind a bill to introduce limits on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately watered down. Instead, the government committed to investigate the topic.

Charities have raised concerns. A prominent charity set up by the family of a teenager who was lost after being exposed to harmful social media material argues that a strict age ban may not make platforms safer and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of harm when young people turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a response to the refusal of the social media companies to design platforms and apps that are safe and suitable for young users," commented a leading child protection advocate.

America: A Decentralized Approach

Stateside, legislation is mostly unfolding at the regional government level against a backdrop of federal stalemate.

• Utah demands guardian permission for minors to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a measure prohibiting children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has enacted a rule restricting teenagers to one hour of social media time per day, with any further time needing a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise enacted measures demanding guardian approval for under-16s to set up social media presences.

Despite bipartisan support and calls from various politicians to copy this path, a US-wide ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Views

Outside of these regions, further countries are similarly exploring options.

• Malaysia aims to restrict social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has lifted the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, international organizations strike a more nuanced stance. The UN children's agency has warned that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "may even backfire". The organization points out that social networks can be a "critical link" for isolated youth and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to prioritize user protection.

Even as this global debate evolves, the actions of Australia and its followers show that policymakers internationally are no longer prepared to delay for tech companies to act voluntarily.