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Australia's controversial policy to prohibit social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples around the globe. Officials, safety advocates, and parents are observing with great interest to see if this tactic will become a template for other nations.

The European Trend

Throughout Europe, a increasing group of nations are exploring similar bans.

• Denmark has announced a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM stating that smartphones and apps are "taking away our youngsters' innocence". A law may be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is planning to enforce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to protect young people from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to authenticate the identity and age of social media users. Officials have suggested that an Australian-model ban remains "one of the tools on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has urged lawmakers to pass a bill increasing the access 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 endorsed a comparable move, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The government in the Netherlands has advised guardians to prevent their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has adopted a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 unless a parent decides otherwise is granted. Although it cautions of the "addictive" nature of these services, the move does not create enforceable legislation.

"A strong age limit is a useful foundation," commented the European lawmaker supporting the resolution.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has kept open a possible ban, emphasizing that "no measure is being dismissed" but stressing any action must be "grounded in robust research".

Previously, momentum gathered behind a legislative effort to impose limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end modified. Nonetheless, the government vowed to investigate the topic.

Campaign organizations have raised warnings. One foundation founded by the relatives of a young person who was lost after encountering disturbing online content contends that a strict age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could create a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when teens reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a answer to the inability of the Silicon Valley to build products and services that are appropriate and age appropriate for young users," said a leading online safety campaigner.

America: A Decentralized Picture

Stateside, regulation is mostly happening at the regional government level due to national stalemate.

• Utah mandates parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and limits late-night use.
• Florida has enacted a measure barring children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has passed a law capping under-16s to a single hour of social media time per day, with additional use requiring a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted measures mandating guardian approval for minors to open social media accounts.

Even with widespread concern and calls from some individuals to follow this example, a nationwide ban is presently seen as unlikely.

International Outlook

Beyond these regions, additional countries are also considering moves.

• Malaysia aims to restrict social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• Brazil has increased the access age for Instagram to 16.

But, global organizations take a more nuanced tone. The UN children's agency has advised that social media bans carry risks and "may even have unintended consequences". The organization notes that online platforms can be a "critical link" for marginalized youth and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to invest in safety.

While this global discussion unfolds, the policies of the Australian government and others show that policymakers around the world are increasingly content to stand by for the industry to self-regulate.