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The Australian bold action to restrict social networking access for young people below 16 is sparking debate internationally. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and parents are watching with great interest to see if this approach will become a template for other nations.

The European Momentum

Across Europe, a growing chorus of countries are exploring similar restrictions.

• The Danish government has announced a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the PM declaring that mobile devices and apps are "taking away our youngsters' childhood". Legislation could be formalized in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is planning to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard the young from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is developing a digital ID system to confirm the identity and age of social media users. Officials have stated that an Australian-model ban remains "a potential measures on the table".
• In Spain, the leader has called on parliament to approve a law lifting the access age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has endorsed a comparable step, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has advised families to restrict their children from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the EU parliament has approved a non-binding motion calling for a ban for under-16s unless parental consent is granted. Even though it highlights of the "addictive" design of these services, the resolution does not create binding law.

"An effective age restriction is a useful first step," commented the MEP behind the initiative.

The United Kingdom: A Watchful Approach

Across Britain, the leadership has not ruled out a potential ban, arguing that "nothing is being dismissed" but stressing any decision must be "supported by robust evidence".

Previously, interest grew behind a bill to enact controls on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately weakened. Nonetheless, the administration pledged to investigate the issue.

Advocacy groups have expressed apprehensions. A prominent charity set up by the family of a girl who took her own life after being exposed to harmful platform posts argues that a strict age ban might not make platforms safer and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of risk when users reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the refusal of the social media companies to build tools that are appropriate and suitable for minors," commented a prominent child protection advocate.

The US: A Decentralized Approach

In the United States, legislation is mostly unfolding at the regional level amid national inaction.

• The state of Utah mandates adult approval for under-18s to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has signed a law barring children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has approved a regulation restricting minors to one hour of social media time per day, with additional time needing adult consent.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise introduced measures demanding adult authorization for teenagers to create social media presences.

Even with bipartisan support and calls from various politicians to mimic this example, a US-wide ban is presently seen as improbable.

Worldwide Perspectives

Apart from Europe and the US, additional states are likewise taking action.

• Malaysia intends to restrict social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• Brazil has raised the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, global organizations strike a more nuanced position. A major UN agency has warned that social media bans pose dangers and "could have unintended consequences". The body points out that social networks can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable youth and that bans should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to invest in user protection.

Even as this global conversation evolves, the policies of the Australian government and its followers show that governments globally are less and less willing to delay for platforms to make changes on their own.