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Australia's controversial policy to prohibit social platforms access for those under 16 is creating waves internationally. Officials, campaigners, and guardians are monitoring with great interest to see if this approach will become a template for other nations.

The European Movement

Throughout Europe, a growing group of countries are exploring parallel bans.

• Denmark has stated a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister declaring that smartphones and apps are "stealing our kids' childhood". Legislation may be enacted next year.
• Norway is planning to introduce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to protect young people from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is developing a digital wallet to authenticate the user details of social media account holders. Authorities have indicated that an Australia-style ban is "an options on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged parliament to pass a proposal lifting the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has suggested a related step, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in The Netherlands has recommended guardians to block their youngsters from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has adopted a non-binding resolution supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 unless parental consent is given. Although it warns of the "habit-forming" quality of these apps, the move does not create mandatory rules.

"A strong age barrier is a useful starting point," stated the parliamentarian supporting the measure.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Stance

In the UK, the leadership has remained open to a potential ban, emphasizing that "nothing is being dismissed" but insisting any action must be "grounded in strong research".

Earlier, support gathered behind a proposal to introduce limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually watered down. Instead, the government vowed to further research the topic.

Charities have voiced concerns. A prominent charity set up by the relatives of a teenager who took her own life after encountering dangerous platform posts suggests that a blanket age ban could fail to protect children and could create a "sudden drop-off" of harm when young people reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a answer to the refusal of the tech sector to create platforms and apps that are appropriate and suitable for young users," commented a influential peer.

The US: A State-by-State Approach

In the United States, legislation is primarily occurring at the state government level amid country-wide inaction.

• Utah requires adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and limits late-night use.
• Florida has signed a bill barring those below 14 from joining social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• The state of Virginia has approved a law capping minors to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with additional time dependent on a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly enacted measures mandating parental consent for under-16s to create social media accounts.

Despite widespread concern and calls from various individuals to copy Australia's example, a nationwide ban is presently seen as improbable.

International Outlook

Apart from the West, further countries are also taking action.

• The Malaysian government aims to restrict social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
• Brazil has increased the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, international bodies take a more nuanced tone. The UN children's agency has cautioned that social media bans carry risks and "might backfire". The organization notes that social networks can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable young people and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to invest in safety.

As this worldwide debate evolves, the steps of Australia and others demonstrate that policymakers internationally are less and less willing to stand by for tech companies to act voluntarily.