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Australia's controversial policy to ban social networking access for those under 16 is creating waves worldwide. Lawmakers, campaigners, and parents are watching with great interest to see if this tactic will set a precedent for countries abroad.

The European Movement

Throughout Europe, a rising chorus of states are exploring similar restrictions.

• Denmark plans a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister declaring that smartphones and platforms are "robbing our kids' childhood". A law may be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is set to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard young people from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• Ireland is working on a digital ID system to authenticate the identity and age of social media users. Officials have suggested that an Australian-model ban is "an tools in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has urged the legislature to enact a law lifting the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a related action, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The government in the Netherlands has advised guardians to prevent their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has passed a non-binding resolution supporting a ban for under-16s unless a parent decides otherwise is given. While it cautions of the "addictive" nature of these services, the move does not enact binding law.

"An effective age limit is a useful foundation," commented the MEP behind the resolution.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Eye

Across Britain, the leadership has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "no measure is being dismissed" but stressing any decision must be "supported by conclusive evidence".

Previously, support built behind a legislative effort to impose controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually modified. However, the administration vowed to conduct more studies the matter.

Charities have voiced warnings. An organization founded by the relatives of a teenager who took her own life after being exposed to disturbing online content suggests that a simple age ban may not improve online safety and could lead to a "cliff edge" of exposure when users turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the refusal of the tech sector to create tools that are safe and age appropriate for minors," commented a influential peer.

America: A Fragmented Landscape

Stateside, regulation is primarily happening at the local government level due to national stalemate.

• Utah requires adult approval for minors to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a measure barring children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• Virginia has passed a regulation restricting teenagers to one hour of social media use per day, with extra access needing adult consent.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed measures mandating parental consent for under-16s to open social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and proposals from various politicians to mimic Australia's path, a US-wide ban is currently seen as improbable.

International Outlook

Beyond the West, further countries are likewise exploring options.

• Malaysia aims to restrict social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• Brazil has lifted the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, international bodies adopt a more measured tone. The UN children's agency has advised that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "could have unintended consequences". The agency highlights that the internet can be a "vital connection" for isolated youth and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to improve user protection.

While this worldwide debate unfolds, the policies of the Australian government and several other countries show that states globally are increasingly prepared to wait for tech companies to act voluntarily.