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The Australian bold policy to restrict social networking access for those under 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and parents are watching closely to see if this approach will set a precedent for other nations.

European Movement

Throughout Europe, a increasing chorus of countries are moving toward parallel restrictions.

• Denmark has stated a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader stating that mobile devices and apps are "robbing our kids' youth". A law could be passed soon.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to introduce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to shield the young from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is introducing a digital ID system to authenticate the user details of social media participants. The media minister have suggested that an similar ban is "one of the measures on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has asked the legislature to pass a bill raising the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has suggested a related step, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The government in The Netherlands has recommended families to prevent their kids from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has approved a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for under-16s without guardian approval is provided. Although it highlights of the "addictive" quality of these apps, the step does not establish binding law.

"A strong age barrier is a good starting point," said one MEP behind the initiative.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Approach

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has remained open to a possible ban, emphasizing that "no measure is being dismissed" but insisting any policy must be "grounded in conclusive data".

Last year, momentum gathered behind a bill to enact limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately weakened. Instead, the government vowed to investigate the issue.

Charities have raised concerns. An organization founded by the relatives of a girl who was lost after encountering harmful social media material suggests that a blanket age ban might not make platforms safer and could create a "dangerous transition" of exposure when users become eligible.

"This ban is a reaction to the inability of the social media companies to create platforms and apps that are secure and suitable for young users," said a prominent peer.

The US: A State-by-State Picture

Across America, legislation is primarily unfolding at the local level amid federal inaction.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and limits overnight use.
• Florida has signed a law barring children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a regulation restricting teenagers to a single hour of social media time per day, with extra time requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise introduced bills demanding adult authorization for under-16s to open social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and calls from various individuals to follow Australia's example, a nationwide ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.

International Outlook

Apart from the West, other countries are similarly taking action.

• Malaysia plans to restrict social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, global bodies adopt a more measured tone. A major UN agency has cautioned that social media bans pose dangers and "might have unintended consequences". The organization highlights that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for marginalized children and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to prioritize user protection.

Even as this worldwide conversation continues, the steps of the Australian government and others show that states globally are no longer content to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.