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Australia's bold action to ban social platforms access for those under 16 is sparking debate worldwide. Officials, safety advocates, and parents are monitoring closely to see if this approach will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Momentum

In Europe, a increasing number of countries are considering parallel bans.

• Denmark has announced a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister declaring that smartphones and apps are "stealing our kids' innocence". The policy may be formalized soon.
• Norway is set to enforce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard children from the "power of the AI".
• Ireland is working on a digital ID system to verify the user details of social media users. The media minister have suggested that an Australian-model ban remains "an options on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked the legislature to pass a proposal increasing the access age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has endorsed a comparable move, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has advised parents to block their children from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has approved a advisory motion calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 without a parent decides otherwise is granted. Even though it cautions of the "addictive" quality of these platforms, the move does not establish mandatory rules.

"A strong age restriction is a good foundation," stated one parliamentarian driving the resolution.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Eye

For the United Kingdom, the administration has kept open a future ban, arguing that "nothing is being dismissed" but insisting any policy must be "supported by robust data".

Earlier, interest gathered behind a legislative effort to impose restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually watered down. Instead, the administration vowed to conduct more studies the matter.

Charities have expressed concerns. An organization founded by the relatives of a teenager who died after encountering harmful platform posts contends that a blanket age ban could fail to improve online safety and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of harm when teens become eligible.

"Australia's ban is a response to the inability of the social media companies to build tools that are safe and suitable for young users," commented a influential online safety campaigner.

The US: A Fragmented Picture

Stateside, regulation is mostly occurring at the regional level amid federal inaction.

• Utah demands parental consent for minors to use social media and controls late-night use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a measure barring those below 14 from accessing social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• Virginia has passed a law limiting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with any further use dependent on a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also passed measures requiring adult authorization for minors to set up social media presences.

Even with cross-party agreement and calls from some politicians to copy Australia's lead, a federal ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Perspectives

Outside of the West, other states are similarly exploring options.

• Malaysia aims to restrict social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, world bodies adopt a more measured stance. A major UN agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "could prove counterproductive". The body points out that social networks can be a "lifeline" for marginalized young people and that government action should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to improve user protection.

Even as this international conversation evolves, the actions of Australia and its followers demonstrate that policymakers around the world are no longer prepared to delay for tech companies to make changes on their own.