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The nation's bold action to ban social platforms access for young people below 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Politicians, safety advocates, and guardians are observing closely to see if this approach will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

European Trend

Across Europe, a rising number of countries are exploring similar restrictions.

• The Danish government plans a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM arguing that smartphones and apps are "taking away our kids' childhood". A law is expected to be formalized next year.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to protect children from the "influence of the algorithms".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the identity and age of social media account holders. The media minister have suggested that an Australia-style ban remains "one of the tools on the table".
• In Spain, the president has urged parliament to approve a law increasing the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a comparable move, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The administration in the Netherlands has advised guardians to block their kids from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has passed a symbolic statement supporting a ban for minors unless parental consent is granted. Even though it warns of the "compulsive" design of these apps, the step does not establish binding law.

"An effective age barrier is a solid starting point," stated the MEP behind the initiative.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Stance

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

Last year, support built behind a legislative effort to impose restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually watered down. Instead, the administration committed to investigate the topic.

Campaign organizations have expressed concerns. An organization established by the loved ones of a teenager who was lost after being exposed to dangerous platform posts contends that a strict age ban could fail to protect children and could lead to a "cliff edge" of risk when young people turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the inability of the social media companies to build platforms and apps that are secure and suitable for minors," said a leading online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Decentralized Landscape

Stateside, legislation is largely unfolding at the local level due to national stalemate.

• The state of Utah demands adult approval for under-18s to use social media and controls late-night use.
• Florida has enacted a bill prohibiting those below 14 from joining social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting minors to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with extra time requiring a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise introduced bills mandating guardian approval for minors to set up social media profiles.

Despite bipartisan support and proposals from some figures to follow this path, a federal ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Outlook

Outside of the West, other nations are likewise taking action.

• The Malaysian government aims to ban social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the required age for one major platform to 16.

But, international bodies take a more nuanced position. A major UN agency has warned that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "may even have unintended consequences". The agency notes that the internet can be a "lifeline" for isolated children and that bans should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to invest in user protection.

As this worldwide debate continues, the steps of Australia and others demonstrate that governments internationally are increasingly content to delay for the industry to self-regulate.