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Australia's controversial policy to restrict social platforms access for those under 16 is sparking debate around the globe. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and parents are observing intently to see if this strategy will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

European Momentum

Across Europe, a rising chorus of countries are moving toward comparable restrictions.

• Denmark plans a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the PM declaring that phones and platforms are "taking away our kids' innocence". A law may be formalized next year.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to introduce a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard the young from the "influence of the AI".
• Ireland is developing a digital wallet to confirm the user details of social media participants. Authorities have indicated that an Australian-model ban is "one of the options under consideration".
• In Spain, the president has asked the legislature to pass a bill lifting the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has recommended a related step, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The government in the Netherlands has urged families to block their children from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has passed a symbolic motion supporting a ban for under-16s unless parental consent is provided. Although it highlights of the "compulsive" nature of these services, the resolution does not enact mandatory rules.

"A strong age limit is a good starting point," said one parliamentarian supporting the measure.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Eye

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has remained open to a possible ban, stating that "no measure is off the table" but insisting any action must be "based on conclusive research".

Last year, momentum gathered behind a proposal to enact restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately modified. Instead, the government vowed to further research the issue.

Charities have expressed apprehensions. A prominent charity set up by the loved ones of a teenager who died after viewing harmful platform posts contends that a simple age ban may not make platforms safer and could create a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when users become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a answer to the failure of the tech sector to create products and services that are safe and age appropriate for minors," stated a prominent peer.

The United States: A Decentralized Picture

In the United States, action is largely happening at the state government level due to federal stalemate.

• The state of Utah demands parental consent for under-18s to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• Florida has enacted a bill barring under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it faces court battles.
• Virginia has passed a regulation limiting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with additional access dependent on adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise introduced bills requiring parental consent for under-16s to open social media accounts.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from certain figures to follow Australia's example, a federal ban is right now seen as improbable.

Global Outlook

Outside of these regions, further nations are also exploring options.

• Malaysia plans to prohibit social media for teenagers effective next year.
• Brazil has increased the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

But, global agencies adopt a more nuanced stance. A major UN agency has warned that social media bans carry risks and "might prove counterproductive". The body notes that social networks can be a "critical link" for isolated young people and that bans should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to prioritize child safeguards.

While this global debate evolves, the steps of this nation and its followers show that policymakers globally are no longer willing to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.