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Australia's controversial action to ban social networking access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves internationally. Politicians, child protection groups, and families are watching with great interest to see if this approach will set a precedent for countries abroad.

The European Movement

Throughout Europe, a rising group of countries are considering parallel measures.

• Denmark has stated a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the leader stating that smartphones and apps are "taking away our kids' innocence". Legislation is expected to be formalized soon.
• Norway is preparing to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard the young from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• Ireland is developing a digital ID system to confirm the user details of social media users. Officials have indicated that an Australian-model ban remains "one of the options under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the president has urged the legislature to enact a proposal increasing the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has recommended a similar action, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The administration in The Netherlands has recommended guardians to block their children from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has approved a non-binding statement supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 except if guardian approval is provided. Even though it warns of the "compulsive" quality of these apps, the resolution does not create enforceable legislation.

"A strong age limit is a solid first step," stated one parliamentarian behind the measure.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Approach

In the UK, the government has remained open to a possible ban, emphasizing that "no measure is discarded" but maintaining any action must be "supported by robust data".

Last year, support gathered behind a legislative effort to enact restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end modified. Instead, the administration committed to conduct more studies the matter.

Advocacy groups have raised warnings. A prominent charity established by the loved ones of a teenager who died after viewing dangerous online content suggests that a simple age ban might not improve online safety and could result in a "dangerous transition" of exposure when users reach the legal age.

"This ban is a reaction to the failure of the tech sector to build products and services that are safe and fit for children," stated a influential online safety campaigner.

America: A Decentralized Approach

Stateside, regulation is mostly unfolding at the regional level due to national inaction.

• Utah mandates adult approval for minors to use social media and controls overnight use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a law barring those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has passed a rule capping teenagers to a single hour of social media use per day, with any further use requiring adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced measures requiring guardian approval for teenagers to set up social media accounts.

Despite cross-party agreement and calls from various figures to copy the Australian example, a US-wide ban is currently seen as improbable.

Global Perspectives

Apart from these regions, other states are likewise exploring options.

• Malaysia intends to ban social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• Brazil has raised the required age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, global organizations adopt a more nuanced position. The UN children's agency has advised that age-based restrictions carry risks and "could backfire". The agency points out that the internet can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable youth and that government action should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to improve user protection.

As this global discussion unfolds, the policies of this nation and others demonstrate that policymakers around the world are no longer content to stand by for the industry to make changes on their own.