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The Australian controversial policy to restrict social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples internationally. Politicians, child protection groups, and families are monitoring closely to see if this tactic will become a template for other nations.

European Momentum

Throughout Europe, a growing group of nations are exploring parallel measures.

• The Danish government has announced a ban on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister declaring that mobile devices and platforms are "robbing our kids' childhood". The policy may be enacted next year.
• Norway is preparing to implement a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to shield the young from the "manipulative force of the AI".
• The Irish government is working on a online verification tool to confirm the age and identity of social media account holders. The media minister have stated that an similar ban is "one of the measures under consideration".
• In Spain, the prime minister has called on lawmakers to enact a bill increasing the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a comparable step, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The government in The Netherlands has advised guardians to prevent their kids from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has adopted a symbolic motion calling for a ban for under-16s unless a parent decides otherwise is given. While it highlights of the "habit-forming" design of these services, the resolution does not create mandatory rules.

"An effective age limit is a good starting point," stated a leading parliamentarian behind the measure.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Eye

For the United Kingdom, the administration has not ruled out a potential ban, emphasizing that "no measure is discarded" but insisting any decision must be "supported by strong evidence".

Previously, momentum grew behind a proposal to impose restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually weakened. Nonetheless, the government committed to investigate the matter.

Charities have voiced concerns. An organization set up by the family of a girl who was lost after viewing harmful social media material suggests that a simple age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could result in a "dangerous transition" of risk when young people reach the legal age.

"This ban is a answer to the inability of the social media companies to design platforms and apps that are safe and age appropriate for minors," said a influential child protection advocate.

The United States: A Decentralized Picture

Across America, regulation is largely occurring at the state level amid country-wide gridlock.

• Utah mandates parental consent for under-18s to use social media and controls overnight use.
• Florida has passed a bill prohibiting children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a rule capping teenagers to one hour of social media time per day, with extra access dependent on a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed bills mandating parental consent for under-16s to open social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and proposals from various individuals to follow this lead, a federal ban is presently seen as unlikely.

International Outlook

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

• Malaysia aims to ban social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• Brazil has increased the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, world organizations strike a more nuanced stance. A major UN agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "might have unintended consequences". The organization points out that social networks can be a "lifeline" for isolated youth and that bans should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to invest in user protection.

While this global conversation continues, the steps of Australia and several other countries indicate that policymakers internationally are increasingly willing to delay for tech companies to make changes on their own.