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Australia's decisive policy to restrict social networking access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples internationally. Politicians, child protection groups, and guardians are monitoring with great interest to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

European Trend

Across Europe, a growing number of nations are exploring parallel measures.

• Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the PM declaring that smartphones and networks are "robbing our youngsters' innocence". The policy is expected to be formalized in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is set to enforce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to safeguard the young from the "influence of the AI".
• Ireland is working on a digital wallet to verify the identity and age of social media participants. Officials have suggested that an similar ban could be "an options on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has asked parliament to approve a proposal lifting the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has suggested a related action, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has urged parents to prevent their children from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has approved a advisory resolution demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 except if parental consent is given. Even though it highlights of the "habit-forming" design of these services, the step does not establish mandatory rules.

"An effective age restriction is a useful foundation," commented one parliamentarian behind the resolution.

The UK: A Cautious Eye

In the UK, the government has kept open a potential ban, stating that "no measure is off the table" but stressing any decision must be "supported by robust research".

Previously, support grew behind a proposal to impose restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end weakened. However, the government vowed to further research the matter.

Campaign organizations have expressed warnings. An organization set up by the relatives of a young person who was lost after encountering harmful online content contends that a simple age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could create a "sudden drop-off" of harm when teens turn 16.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the refusal of the tech sector to create products and services that are safe and suitable for minors," commented a leading peer.

The United States: A Fragmented Landscape

Stateside, action is largely unfolding at the local government level against a backdrop of federal stalemate.

• Utah demands adult approval for under-18s to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has signed a bill prohibiting children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has approved a law restricting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with additional access requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly passed bills requiring guardian approval for minors to set up social media accounts.

Even with cross-party agreement and calls from certain figures to follow the Australian example, a federal ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Outlook

Outside of the West, additional countries are likewise exploring options.

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

However, global organizations strike a more cautious stance. Unicef has warned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "may even backfire". The organization highlights that online platforms can be a "critical link" for vulnerable youth and that bans should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to prioritize user protection.

While this international debate unfolds, the actions of this nation and its followers indicate that governments internationally are no longer content to delay for tech companies to act voluntarily.