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Australia's decisive policy to prohibit social networking access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples worldwide. Lawmakers, campaigners, and guardians are watching with great interest to see if this strategy will become a template for other nations.

The European Trend

Throughout Europe, a growing group of countries are exploring comparable bans.

• Denmark has announced a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the PM declaring that smartphones and apps are "stealing our children's childhood". Legislation may be formalized in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to implement a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to protect the young from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is introducing a digital wallet to confirm the age and identity of social media users. The media minister have suggested that an Australian-model ban remains "an options in reserve".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged the legislature to enact a bill lifting the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has recommended a comparable move, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The administration in The Dutch government has urged guardians to prevent their kids from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has passed a advisory resolution calling for a ban for minors except if parental consent is provided. Even though it highlights of the "habit-forming" quality of these apps, the resolution does not establish binding law.

"A strong age restriction is a good first step," commented a leading parliamentarian behind the initiative.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Stance

For the United Kingdom, the administration has remained open to a future ban, stating that "no option is being dismissed" but insisting any action must be "grounded in strong research".

Previously, momentum grew behind a proposal to introduce controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately weakened. Instead, the administration pledged to conduct more studies the matter.

Campaign organizations have expressed apprehensions. An organization established by the relatives of a teenager who died after viewing harmful platform posts argues that a strict age ban might not make platforms safer and could result in a "dangerous transition" of exposure when teens become eligible.

"This ban is a answer to the failure of the tech sector to design platforms and apps that are safe and fit for children," said a leading peer.

The US: A Decentralized Landscape

Stateside, action is primarily occurring at the regional level amid federal inaction.

• Utah mandates parental consent for minors to use social media and limits overnight use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a bill barring children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• Virginia has enacted a law restricting under-16s to a single hour of social media use per day, with any further use dependent on parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced measures demanding parental consent for teenagers to set up social media accounts.

Despite widespread concern and calls from various politicians to follow this lead, a nationwide ban is presently seen as unlikely.

Global Views

Beyond Europe and the US, further countries are also taking action.

• The Malaysian government intends to prohibit social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has increased the access age for Instagram to 16.

But, world organizations take a more measured stance. The UN children's agency has advised that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "might have unintended consequences". The organization points out that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable young people and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to improve safety.

While this international discussion continues, the actions of the Australian government and others indicate that policymakers around the world are no longer content to wait for the industry to self-regulate.