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Australia's controversial action to ban social platforms access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Lawmakers, campaigners, and guardians are monitoring closely to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

The European Momentum

Throughout Europe, a increasing chorus of states are considering parallel bans.

• The Danish government has stated a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister stating that mobile devices and platforms are "stealing our children's childhood". Legislation is expected to be enacted in the coming year.
• Norway is planning to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard the young from the "power of the algorithms".
• Ireland is working on a digital wallet to confirm the age and identity of social media participants. Officials have indicated that an similar ban could be "one of the measures on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has called on lawmakers to approve a law lifting the access age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has suggested a comparable move, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in the Netherlands has urged families to prevent their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has adopted a non-binding motion demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 except if parental consent is granted. While it cautions of the "compulsive" quality of these platforms, the move does not establish enforceable legislation.

"A clear age limit is a good starting point," stated a leading parliamentarian supporting the resolution.

Britain: A Watchful Approach

Across Britain, the government has not ruled out a future ban, arguing that "no measure is discarded" but insisting any action must be "supported by robust data".

Last year, interest gathered behind a legislative effort to enact restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end watered down. Instead, the administration vowed to further research the topic.

Advocacy groups have expressed concerns. One foundation established by the family of a young person who was lost after viewing dangerous platform posts suggests that a simple age ban might not improve online safety and could create a "dangerous transition" of harm when users turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a response to the failure of the tech sector to design products and services that are appropriate and fit for young users," said a leading online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Fragmented Landscape

In the United States, action is mostly happening at the local level due to national gridlock.

• The state of Utah mandates parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a measure prohibiting under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with extra access needing adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced laws requiring parental consent for minors to set up social media profiles.

Despite cross-party agreement and proposals from various figures to mimic Australia's lead, a US-wide ban is currently seen as improbable.

Global Perspectives

Apart from Europe and the US, further countries are similarly exploring options.

• Malaysia plans to ban social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
• Brazil has lifted the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, global agencies take a more nuanced position. Unicef has cautioned that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "might prove counterproductive". The body points out that social networks can be a "vital connection" for isolated children and that bans should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to improve user protection.

Even as this worldwide debate unfolds, the actions of the Australian government and its followers show that governments globally are increasingly content to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.