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Australia's decisive move to prohibit social networking access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples around the globe. Officials, child protection groups, and families are watching with great interest to see if this tactic will become a template for countries abroad.

The European Movement

Throughout Europe, a rising group of nations are exploring parallel measures.

• Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader arguing that phones and apps are "stealing our youngsters' youth". A law could be passed next year.
• Norway is preparing to implement a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard children from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is developing a digital wallet to confirm the identity and age of social media account holders. Officials have stated that an Australian-model ban could be "one of the measures in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has called on the legislature to pass a proposal lifting the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has endorsed a comparable move, including an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The government in the Netherlands has urged guardians to prevent their youngsters from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has adopted a non-binding statement demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 except if parental consent is provided. While it warns of the "addictive" nature of these services, the move does not create mandatory rules.

"A strong age limit is a good starting point," said one parliamentarian supporting the initiative.

Britain: A Watchful Stance

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

Earlier, interest gathered behind a legislative effort to introduce limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end weakened. However, the administration committed to investigate the topic.

Charities have raised concerns. A prominent charity set up by the family of a young person who was lost after being exposed to disturbing social media material suggests that a strict age ban might not make platforms safer and could result in a "dangerous transition" of risk when users reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to create platforms and apps that are appropriate and suitable for minors," stated a prominent online safety campaigner.

America: A Decentralized Approach

In the United States, regulation is primarily happening at the regional government level amid country-wide gridlock.

• Utah demands parental consent for minors to use social media and limits late-night use.
• The state of Florida has signed a bill barring children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• Virginia has passed a law capping minors to one hour of social media use per day, with extra time dependent on a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly enacted laws mandating parental consent for under-16s to set up social media profiles.

Despite bipartisan support and suggestions from certain individuals to follow this path, a nationwide ban is currently seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Outlook

Beyond these regions, other states are likewise taking action.

• Malaysia plans to restrict social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• Brazil has increased the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

But, global agencies adopt a more measured stance. Unicef has cautioned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "may even have unintended consequences". The body points out that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for marginalized youth and that government action should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to invest in safety.

Even as this international conversation unfolds, the policies of Australia and its followers demonstrate that policymakers around the world are no longer content to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.