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Australia's decisive move to prohibit social networking access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and parents are observing intently to see if this approach will inspire imitation for other nations.

The European Momentum

Across Europe, a rising chorus of nations are exploring comparable bans.

• Denmark has announced a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister arguing that mobile devices and apps are "taking away our children's innocence". Legislation could be enacted soon.
• Norway is set to implement a age restriction of 15, citing the need to shield children from the "power of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is working on a online verification tool to verify the user details of social media users. The media minister have suggested that an Australia-style ban could be "one of the options on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has called on parliament to approve a law increasing the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has endorsed a related step, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has recommended guardians to block their children from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has adopted a non-binding motion demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 unless parental consent is granted. Although it warns of the "addictive" design of these apps, the move does not create binding law.

"A clear age limit is a useful foundation," commented a leading parliamentarian supporting the initiative.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Eye

In the UK, the government has kept open a future ban, stating that "no measure is off the table" but stressing any decision must be "based on strong evidence".

Earlier, support gathered behind a proposal to impose limits on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately watered down. Instead, the government vowed to investigate the topic.

Advocacy groups have raised concerns. One foundation set up by the family of a girl who was lost after viewing dangerous social media material argues that a strict age ban could fail to protect children and could result in a "cliff edge" of risk when users become eligible.

"This ban is a response to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to build products and services that are appropriate and suitable for minors," commented a leading online safety campaigner.

The US: A Fragmented Landscape

Across America, action is primarily unfolding at the regional level due to federal stalemate.

• Utah demands parental consent for minors to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• Florida has signed a law banning under-14s from joining social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a regulation capping under-16s to one hour of social media access per day, with additional access needing parental permission.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly passed measures mandating adult authorization for teenagers to create social media profiles.

Despite widespread concern and suggestions from various politicians to copy the Australian path, a federal ban is currently seen as improbable.

Worldwide Perspectives

Beyond the West, other states are also taking action.

• Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has increased the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

However, global organizations take a more measured tone. Unicef has advised that age-based restrictions carry risks and "could backfire". The agency points out that social networks can be a "critical link" for isolated young people and that government action should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to prioritize safety.

While this international discussion evolves, the policies of this nation and its followers indicate that policymakers globally are no longer prepared to stand by for tech companies to act voluntarily.