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The Australian bold policy to restrict social platforms access for those under 16 is sparking debate worldwide. Officials, child protection groups, and families are observing with great interest to see if this strategy will set a precedent for other nations.

The European Movement

Throughout Europe, a growing group of states are considering similar restrictions.

• Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the PM declaring that smartphones and networks are "stealing our children's youth". Legislation is expected to be passed next year.
• Norway is set to implement a access barrier of 15, citing the need to protect children from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is developing a digital wallet to verify the age and identity of social media participants. Authorities have indicated that an similar ban remains "a potential measures under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the president has asked lawmakers to enact a bill raising the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a related action, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in The Netherlands has recommended guardians to restrict their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has approved a advisory motion demanding a ban for under-16s unless parental consent is granted. Even though it cautions of the "compulsive" quality of these platforms, the move does not create enforceable legislation.

"A clear age limit is a good first step," stated one European lawmaker driving the measure.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Stance

In the UK, the government has remained open to a potential ban, stating that "no option is off the table" but insisting any policy must be "grounded in robust research".

Previously, support grew behind a bill to impose controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually modified. Instead, the administration pledged to conduct more studies the topic.

Campaign organizations have raised warnings. A prominent charity founded by the loved ones of a young person who was lost after viewing dangerous online content suggests that a blanket age ban may not improve online safety and could create a "dangerous transition" of exposure when teens turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a response to the inability of the Silicon Valley to create tools that are safe and age appropriate for children," stated a leading child protection advocate.

The United States: A Decentralized Approach

Across America, action is largely occurring at the local government level due to country-wide stalemate.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for minors to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a law banning under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• Virginia has enacted a rule limiting minors to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with additional access needing a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed measures requiring guardian approval for under-16s to open social media accounts.

Despite bipartisan support and calls from certain politicians to copy this example, a US-wide ban is currently seen as improbable.

Worldwide Perspectives

Apart from Europe and the US, additional states are also considering moves.

• The Malaysian government intends to prohibit social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• Brazil has lifted the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, international agencies adopt a more measured position. A major UN agency has warned that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "may even prove counterproductive". The organization notes that social networks can be a "lifeline" for isolated children and that bans should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to invest in child safeguards.

While this international conversation evolves, the actions of this nation and others demonstrate that policymakers globally are less and less prepared to stand by for the industry to make changes on their own.