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Australia's decisive action to prohibit social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves around the globe. Officials, campaigners, and guardians are watching intently to see if this tactic will become a template for countries abroad.

European Trend

Throughout Europe, a growing group of countries are moving toward parallel restrictions.

• The Danish government plans a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the PM arguing that phones and networks are "robbing our children's childhood". A law may be enacted next year.
• The Norwegian government is set to enforce a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to protect children from the "power of the algorithms".
• Ireland is developing a digital ID system to confirm the user details of social media users. The media minister have stated that an Australia-style ban could be "a potential measures under consideration".
• In Spain, the prime minister has called on parliament to enact a bill lifting the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has endorsed a similar action, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has advised families to prevent their children from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has approved a non-binding motion calling for a ban for under-16s unless guardian approval is granted. Although it warns of the "compulsive" nature of these services, the step does not enact mandatory rules.

"A strong age restriction is a solid starting point," commented a leading MEP supporting the initiative.

Britain: A Cautious Stance

Across Britain, the leadership has kept open a future ban, arguing that "nothing is being dismissed" but insisting any policy must be "based on conclusive research".

Last year, momentum grew behind a proposal to introduce controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end weakened. Instead, the government committed to investigate the topic.

Campaign organizations have voiced concerns. An organization set up by the family of a girl who was lost after encountering harmful platform posts argues that a blanket age ban may not make platforms safer and could result in a "cliff edge" of exposure when teens reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the refusal of the social media companies to design products and services that are safe and suitable for children," said a prominent online safety campaigner.

The US: A Fragmented Approach

Stateside, action is primarily occurring at the local government level due to federal inaction.

• The state of Utah demands adult approval for minors to use social media and controls overnight use.
• The state of Florida has passed a bill banning children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting minors to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with any further use dependent on a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed bills demanding adult authorization for under-16s to create social media accounts.

Even with cross-party agreement and calls from some politicians to follow the Australian example, a nationwide ban is right now seen as improbable.

Global Outlook

Apart from Europe and the US, further countries are also taking action.

• The Malaysian government aims to ban social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has increased the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

But, global agencies adopt a more cautious tone. Unicef has advised that age-based restrictions have downsides and "might backfire". The agency points out that the internet can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable young people and that government action should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to improve safety.

As this worldwide debate evolves, the actions of Australia and several other countries demonstrate that policymakers internationally are increasingly prepared to delay for platforms to make changes on their own.