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The Australian controversial policy to ban social platforms access for young people below 16 is creating waves around the globe. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and parents are monitoring with great interest to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

Across Europe Movement

In Europe, a increasing group of countries are exploring comparable measures.

• The Danish government has stated a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader declaring that smartphones and apps are "stealing our youngsters' childhood". Legislation may be enacted in the coming year.
• Norway is planning to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to shield the young from the "power of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to confirm the identity and age of social media account holders. The media minister have suggested that an Australia-style ban could be "an measures in reserve".
• In Spain, the leader has urged parliament to enact a proposal lifting the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has suggested a related action, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has urged guardians to block their children from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the EU parliament has passed a advisory motion demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 except if a parent decides otherwise is provided. Although it highlights of the "compulsive" quality of these apps, the resolution does not enact binding law.

"A clear age barrier is a useful starting point," stated a leading European lawmaker supporting the initiative.

The UK: A Cautious Eye

For the United Kingdom, the administration has remained open to a possible ban, arguing that "no measure is discarded" but insisting any decision must be "supported by conclusive data".

Earlier, support built behind a bill to introduce limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually watered down. However, the administration pledged to conduct more studies the matter.

Charities have expressed warnings. A prominent charity established by the family of a teenager who was lost after viewing dangerous online content argues that a simple age ban may not improve online safety and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of harm when users reach the legal age.

"This ban is a answer to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to design tools that are safe and suitable for young users," stated a influential online safety campaigner.

America: A State-by-State Picture

Across America, legislation is primarily happening at the regional level amid country-wide stalemate.

• The state of Utah mandates parental consent for minors to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a law barring those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it faces court battles.
• Virginia has approved a rule capping teenagers to a single hour of social media access per day, with additional use requiring adult consent.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed measures requiring adult authorization for teenagers to create social media profiles.

Even with cross-party agreement and calls from various individuals to mimic this example, a US-wide ban is presently seen as improbable.

Global Outlook

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

• The Malaysian government aims to prohibit social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• Brazil has lifted the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, global organizations take a more measured tone. Unicef has cautioned that social media bans have downsides and "may even backfire". The agency highlights that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for isolated young people and that bans should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to prioritize safety.

As this global conversation continues, the actions of Australia and others indicate that policymakers globally are increasingly willing to stand by for tech companies to act voluntarily.