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The Australian controversial policy to ban social networking access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Officials, campaigners, and families are watching intently to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.

The European Movement

Across Europe, a increasing number of countries are moving toward comparable measures.

• The Danish government plans a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the leader declaring that mobile devices and apps are "robbing our kids' childhood". The policy could be passed soon.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to implement a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard children from the "power of the AI".
• The Irish government is developing a digital wallet to verify the age and identity of social media participants. Authorities have indicated that an Australian-model ban could be "an tools under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has urged the legislature to enact a law raising the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a related move, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has advised guardians to restrict their children from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has approved a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 except if guardian approval is granted. Even though it cautions of the "addictive" design of these services, the resolution does not establish enforceable legislation.

"A clear age limit is a good foundation," said the MEP behind the measure.

The UK: A Cautious Stance

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has remained open to a possible ban, arguing that "no option is discarded" but insisting any action must be "grounded in robust evidence".

Earlier, momentum grew behind a proposal to impose limits on social media use by minors, but it was in the end watered down. Nonetheless, the government committed to investigate the topic.

Advocacy groups have expressed warnings. One foundation founded by the relatives of a young person who died after viewing harmful platform posts suggests that a simple age ban could fail to improve online safety and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of risk when users turn 16.

"This ban is a response to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to create platforms and apps that are appropriate and age appropriate for young users," said a influential child protection advocate.

The United States: A Decentralized Picture

Stateside, legislation is primarily happening at the regional level due to federal stalemate.

• Utah requires adult approval for under-18s to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has signed a bill barring under-14s from joining social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has enacted a rule capping teenagers to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with extra time requiring adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also enacted bills requiring parental consent for teenagers to open social media profiles.

Despite widespread concern and suggestions from some individuals to copy Australia's example, a US-wide ban is presently seen as unlikely.

International Outlook

Apart from the West, additional states are likewise taking action.

• Malaysia aims to ban social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• Brazil has increased the required age for one major platform to 16.

But, global bodies strike a more nuanced position. Unicef has warned that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "may even prove counterproductive". The agency highlights that the internet can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable children and that bans should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to improve safety.

Even as this worldwide conversation unfolds, the policies of Australia and its followers show that governments globally are less and less prepared to stand by for tech companies to make changes on their own.