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Australia's bold move to restrict social networking access for young people below 16 is creating waves around the globe. Politicians, campaigners, and families are monitoring intently to see if this approach will set a precedent for countries abroad.

The European Movement

In Europe, a growing number of states are exploring parallel restrictions.

• The Danish government has announced a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister declaring that mobile devices and platforms are "robbing our youngsters' innocence". Legislation is expected to be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is set to enforce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to protect the young from the "power of the AI".
• The Irish government is developing a digital ID system to verify the age and identity of social media account holders. Authorities have stated that an Australian-model ban could be "an tools in reserve".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked parliament to enact a proposal lifting the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a comparable move, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The administration in the Netherlands has urged guardians to restrict their kids from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has passed a non-binding resolution calling for a ban for under-16s unless a parent decides otherwise is provided. While it highlights of the "habit-forming" quality of these platforms, the move does not establish binding law.

"A clear age restriction is a solid first step," stated a leading MEP supporting the initiative.

Britain: A Cautious Stance

In the UK, the administration has not ruled out a future ban, emphasizing that "no option is discarded" but stressing any action must be "grounded in strong evidence".

Earlier, support grew behind a legislative effort to enact limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end modified. Instead, the government pledged to further research the matter.

Charities have voiced apprehensions. One foundation set up by the loved ones of a girl who took her own life after viewing dangerous platform posts contends that a strict age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could create a "cliff edge" of harm when users turn 16.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the failure of the tech sector to build tools that are appropriate and fit for children," commented a leading peer.

America: A Decentralized Approach

In the United States, regulation is largely occurring at the local level due to country-wide inaction.

• The state of Utah requires adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• Florida has passed a measure banning under-14s from joining social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• Virginia has passed a regulation capping under-16s to a single hour of social media time per day, with additional time needing a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise enacted bills requiring guardian approval for under-16s to set up social media accounts.

Despite bipartisan support and proposals from various individuals to follow this example, a federal ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

Global Views

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

• Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, international bodies take a more cautious position. The UN children's agency has warned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "could backfire". The organization highlights that social networks can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable youth and that bans should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to prioritize user protection.

Even as this global conversation unfolds, the policies of this nation and others show that states around the world are less and less willing to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.