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Australia's bold action to ban social networking access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Officials, child protection groups, and guardians are watching closely to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for other nations.

European Trend

Across Europe, a rising number of states are considering parallel restrictions.

• The Danish government has stated a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader arguing that smartphones and apps are "robbing our youngsters' youth". Legislation is expected to be enacted in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is set to introduce a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard the young from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to confirm the age and identity of social media participants. Officials have suggested that an Australian-model ban could be "an measures under consideration".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged the legislature to enact a bill increasing the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has endorsed a related step, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in the Netherlands has advised families to restrict their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has passed a advisory motion supporting a ban for minors except if parental consent is granted. While it highlights of the "compulsive" design of these platforms, the resolution does not create binding law.

"A strong age limit is a good starting point," said one European lawmaker driving the initiative.

The UK: A Cautious Approach

In the UK, the government has kept open a future ban, arguing that "nothing is being dismissed" but insisting any action must be "based on strong evidence".

Previously, momentum built behind a bill to enact restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately weakened. Nonetheless, the administration pledged to further research the issue.

Campaign organizations have voiced apprehensions. A prominent charity set up by the relatives of a girl who died after encountering harmful online content contends that a strict age ban could fail to protect children and could result in a "dangerous transition" of harm when users become eligible.

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

The US: A Decentralized Landscape

In the United States, legislation is primarily happening at the local government level amid country-wide inaction.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for minors to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• Florida has signed a bill prohibiting children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• The state of Virginia has approved a rule restricting under-16s to a single hour of social media use per day, with additional time needing parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise enacted laws demanding parental consent for teenagers to create social media profiles.

Despite cross-party agreement and proposals from certain individuals to copy Australia's lead, a nationwide ban is presently seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Views

Beyond the West, additional countries are similarly exploring options.

• The Malaysian government plans to prohibit social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

But, world agencies take a more nuanced position. Unicef has cautioned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "may even prove counterproductive". The body highlights that the internet can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable young people and that bans should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to prioritize safety.

As this international debate evolves, the policies of Australia and others demonstrate that governments around the world are no longer willing to wait for platforms to act voluntarily.