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The Australian bold policy to restrict social networking access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves internationally. Officials, safety advocates, and families are observing intently to see if this approach will become a template for countries abroad.

European Trend

In Europe, a increasing group of states are moving toward comparable restrictions.

• Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the leader declaring that phones and networks are "taking away our children's youth". A law is expected to be formalized soon.
• Norway is preparing to implement a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to shield young people from the "power of the algorithms".
• Ireland is developing a digital ID system to verify the age and identity of social media users. The media minister have suggested that an Australia-style ban remains "one of the options under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the president has called on parliament to approve a bill lifting the access age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has suggested a similar action, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The government in The Netherlands has recommended parents to prevent their kids from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has approved a advisory resolution demanding a ban for minors without guardian approval is given. Even though it cautions of the "habit-forming" design of these platforms, the resolution does not enact mandatory rules.

"An effective age restriction is a solid foundation," stated one parliamentarian behind the initiative.

The UK: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the administration has kept open a possible ban, stating that "no measure is off the table" but maintaining any policy must be "grounded in robust research".

Previously, support built behind a proposal to enact controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually weakened. Nonetheless, the administration pledged to conduct more studies the topic.

Campaign organizations have expressed apprehensions. An organization established by the relatives of a girl who took her own life after encountering harmful social media material contends that a blanket age ban may not protect children and could result in a "cliff edge" of risk when young people become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a response to the inability of the tech sector to design tools that are secure and age appropriate for young users," commented a influential online safety campaigner.

America: A Fragmented Landscape

Stateside, regulation is largely happening at the state level amid national inaction.

• Utah requires guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and limits overnight use.
• Florida has signed a bill prohibiting under-14s from joining social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a regulation capping teenagers to one hour of social media access per day, with extra use dependent on parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed bills demanding guardian approval for under-16s to create social media accounts.

Even with cross-party agreement and calls from some figures to mimic Australia's example, a nationwide ban is right now seen as improbable.

Worldwide Views

Beyond the West, other nations are also exploring options.

• Malaysia plans to ban social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has lifted the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

Yet, world organizations strike a more measured position. Unicef has advised that social media bans have downsides and "may even prove counterproductive". The agency points out that online platforms can be a "critical link" for marginalized young people and that bans should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to invest in user protection.

Even as this international debate continues, the policies of the Australian government and its followers indicate that policymakers globally are increasingly content to wait for platforms to act voluntarily.