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Australia's decisive move to restrict social networking access for young people below 16 is sparking debate internationally. Officials, safety advocates, and guardians are watching with great interest to see if this approach will inspire imitation for other nations.

European Momentum

In Europe, a rising group of nations are exploring comparable bans.

• The Danish government has announced a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister declaring that smartphones and networks are "taking away our youngsters' youth". The policy may be enacted soon.
• The Norwegian government is set to enforce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard the young from the "power of the AI".
• The Irish government is working on a digital wallet to authenticate the age and identity of social media users. The media minister have stated that an similar ban is "a potential measures in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the president has urged parliament to enact a proposal raising the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the president has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a similar action, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in The Dutch government has urged parents to prevent their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has passed a symbolic statement demanding a ban for under-16s except if parental consent is provided. Although it warns of the "habit-forming" design of these apps, the resolution does not create enforceable legislation.

"A strong age barrier is a solid first step," commented the European lawmaker supporting the resolution.

The UK: A Cautious Eye

For the United Kingdom, the administration has remained open to a future ban, stating that "nothing is discarded" but maintaining any action must be "grounded in robust data".

Last year, support built behind a bill to impose controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end weakened. Instead, the administration committed to conduct more studies the issue.

Advocacy groups have expressed warnings. One foundation founded by the relatives of a young person who was lost after viewing dangerous platform posts suggests that a blanket age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could lead to a "cliff edge" of risk when young people become eligible.

"This ban is a reaction to the inability of the tech sector to create tools that are safe and suitable for minors," commented a leading online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Decentralized Picture

In the United States, action is largely unfolding at the state level against a backdrop of national inaction.

• The state of Utah requires adult approval for under-18s to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a measure prohibiting those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has approved a law restricting minors to a single hour of social media access per day, with additional time needing adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed laws mandating guardian approval for minors to open social media profiles.

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

Global Views

Beyond Europe and the US, additional nations are also taking action.

• Malaysia plans to prohibit social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has lifted the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

However, international bodies strike a more cautious position. Unicef has cautioned that social media bans carry risks and "may even prove counterproductive". The organization highlights that social networks can be a "critical link" for isolated young people and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to improve safety.

While this global discussion evolves, the steps of the Australian government and several other countries indicate that policymakers globally are increasingly prepared to delay for the industry to make changes on their own.