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Australia's bold policy to restrict social platforms access for individuals under sixteen is sparking debate internationally. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and parents are watching closely to see if this strategy will become a template for other nations.

The European Trend

Across Europe, a rising chorus of nations are considering parallel measures.

• Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister stating that phones and apps are "robbing our children's innocence". A law could be passed soon.
• Norway is planning to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to shield the young from the "influence of the AI".
• Ireland is developing a digital ID system to authenticate the user details of social media account holders. Officials have indicated that an Australian-model ban remains "one of the tools on the table".
• In Spain, the leader has asked parliament to approve a law lifting the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a related move, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The administration in The Netherlands has advised parents to restrict their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.

Across the European Union, the EU parliament has adopted a symbolic statement calling for a ban for minors without a parent decides otherwise is given. Although it warns of the "compulsive" design of these platforms, the resolution does not enact binding law.

"A clear age barrier is a useful first step," said a leading European lawmaker driving the resolution.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Stance

For the United Kingdom, the administration has kept open a future ban, stating that "no option is discarded" but insisting any policy must be "grounded in robust data".

Earlier, interest grew behind a proposal to enact controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end weakened. Nonetheless, the government committed to conduct more studies the matter.

Charities have voiced warnings. A prominent charity set up by the relatives of a teenager who died after being exposed to harmful online content suggests that a simple age ban may not improve online safety and could create a "dangerous transition" of risk when teens become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a response to the inability of the social media companies to create platforms and apps that are safe and suitable for young users," said a leading child protection advocate.

The US: A State-by-State Landscape

In the United States, legislation is primarily unfolding at the regional government level due to country-wide gridlock.

• The state of Utah requires parental consent for under-18s to use social media and restricts late-night use.
• Florida has signed a measure prohibiting under-14s from joining social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has approved a law capping minors to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with additional time dependent on a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly enacted measures mandating adult authorization for teenagers to create social media profiles.

Even with cross-party agreement and proposals from certain individuals to mimic this example, a federal ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Views

Beyond the West, further states are likewise considering moves.

• Malaysia plans to ban social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has lifted the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

But, international organizations strike a more nuanced tone. A major UN agency has advised that age-based restrictions have downsides and "could have unintended consequences". The organization notes that the internet can be a "vital connection" for isolated youth and that bans should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to invest in user protection.

As this international conversation unfolds, the actions of this nation and its followers demonstrate that policymakers around the world are increasingly willing to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.