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The Australian decisive policy to prohibit social platforms access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Lawmakers, campaigners, and parents are watching with great interest to see if this tactic will become a template for countries abroad.

The European Movement

In Europe, a rising group of states are moving toward comparable measures.

• Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister stating that mobile devices and apps are "robbing our kids' childhood". Legislation is expected to be passed next year.
• Norway is set to introduce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to protect the young from the "manipulative force of the AI".
• The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to authenticate the identity and age of social media participants. The media minister have suggested that an similar ban is "a potential measures on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has urged parliament to enact a law increasing the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has endorsed a comparable action, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has urged families to restrict their children from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has passed a advisory motion calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 except if guardian approval is given. Even though it highlights of the "habit-forming" nature of these services, the step does not enact mandatory rules.

"A strong age barrier is a good foundation," commented one parliamentarian supporting the measure.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Stance

Across Britain, the administration has kept open a potential ban, arguing that "no option is being dismissed" but insisting any decision must be "supported by strong data".

Previously, momentum built behind a proposal to enact restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end watered down. Instead, the government committed to conduct more studies the issue.

Campaign organizations have voiced warnings. A prominent charity founded by the relatives of a teenager who was lost after viewing dangerous platform posts suggests that a strict age ban may not make platforms safer and could create a "dangerous transition" of exposure when young people become eligible.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the refusal of the social media companies to create tools that are safe and fit for children," said a prominent online safety campaigner.

The US: A Fragmented Picture

In the United States, legislation is largely unfolding at the local level amid national gridlock.

• Utah demands parental consent for under-18s to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a measure banning children under fourteen from joining social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a rule capping minors to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with extra access requiring a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly enacted bills requiring guardian approval for minors to create social media presences.

Despite widespread concern and suggestions from some politicians to follow this example, a nationwide ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.

International Outlook

Apart from the West, additional states are also considering moves.

• Malaysia plans to restrict social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• Brazil has lifted the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, international bodies strike a more nuanced position. A major UN agency has warned that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "might have unintended consequences". The body notes that the internet can be a "lifeline" for isolated young people and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to prioritize safety.

Even as this worldwide conversation evolves, the policies of this nation and its followers demonstrate that policymakers around the world are no longer content to stand by for platforms to make changes on their own.