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Australia's decisive policy to restrict social networking access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Politicians, safety advocates, and guardians are watching with great interest to see if this approach will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Momentum

Throughout Europe, a rising group of countries are considering similar restrictions.

• The Danish government plans a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister declaring that mobile devices and apps are "stealing our kids' childhood". The policy is expected to be formalized soon.
• The Norwegian government is planning to introduce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to safeguard children from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• Ireland is working on a digital wallet to authenticate the identity and age of social media users. Authorities have suggested that an Australian-model ban is "one of the tools in reserve".
• In Spain, the president has urged lawmakers to approve a law lifting the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has recommended a comparable action, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The administration in the Netherlands has recommended guardians to block their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has passed a symbolic motion supporting a ban for minors without a parent decides otherwise is given. While it highlights of the "compulsive" quality of these apps, the step does not establish mandatory rules.

"A clear age limit is a useful starting point," stated one parliamentarian supporting the measure.

The UK: A Watchful Approach

For the United Kingdom, the government has kept open a future ban, arguing that "no measure is off the table" but maintaining any policy must be "supported by conclusive research".

Last year, support built behind a legislative effort to enact controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually watered down. However, the government pledged to conduct more studies the matter.

Charities have raised concerns. A prominent charity established by the family of a teenager who was lost after viewing harmful social media material contends that a blanket age ban might not make platforms safer and could create a "sudden drop-off" of harm when users become eligible.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the failure of the tech sector to create platforms and apps that are secure and age appropriate for young users," commented a influential online safety campaigner.

America: A State-by-State Landscape

Across America, legislation is largely unfolding at the local level amid national inaction.

• The state of Utah requires guardian permission for minors to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• Florida has enacted a measure banning under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting minors to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with additional time requiring a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also passed bills mandating guardian approval for teenagers to create social media accounts.

Despite cross-party agreement and calls from certain individuals to follow the Australian path, a federal ban is presently seen as improbable.

Global Outlook

Apart from the West, other states are likewise exploring options.

• Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• Brazil has raised the required age for one major platform to 16.

However, global agencies take a more cautious tone. Unicef has advised that social media bans pose dangers and "might backfire". The agency highlights that social networks can be a "critical link" for isolated young people and that bans should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to improve user protection.

Even as this global conversation continues, the actions of the Australian government and several other countries show that governments globally are no longer content to wait for tech companies to self-regulate.