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Australia's controversial action to ban social networking access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples around the globe. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and guardians are observing closely to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for other nations.

The European Momentum

In Europe, a increasing group of states are considering similar bans.

• The Danish government has stated a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister stating that smartphones and networks are "stealing our kids' youth". Legislation may be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is set to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to shield children from the "power of the AI".
• Ireland is working on a digital ID system to authenticate the user details of social media participants. The media minister have indicated that an similar ban is "one of the measures on the table".
• In Spain, the president has urged lawmakers to approve a law raising the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has suggested a similar step, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The government in The Netherlands has urged families to restrict their youngsters from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has adopted a symbolic motion supporting a ban for minors without guardian approval is granted. Even though it warns of the "compulsive" quality of these platforms, the step does not enact binding law.

"A strong age restriction is a useful first step," said the European lawmaker behind the initiative.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Approach

In the UK, the government has remained open to a potential ban, emphasizing that "no measure is being dismissed" but stressing any policy must be "based on robust research".

Earlier, momentum grew behind a bill to enact restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately watered down. However, the government vowed to conduct more studies the topic.

Advocacy groups have voiced warnings. A prominent charity set up by the loved ones of a young person who took her own life after encountering disturbing social media material argues that a blanket age ban might not make platforms safer and could result in a "dangerous transition" of risk when teens turn 16.

"The Australian ban is a answer to the failure of the Silicon Valley to build tools that are appropriate and age appropriate for minors," said a prominent online safety campaigner.

The US: A Decentralized Picture

In the United States, regulation is mostly unfolding at the state government level amid national inaction.

• The state of Utah requires adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a law banning those below 14 from joining social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has approved a regulation restricting minors to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with extra time needing parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise introduced laws demanding guardian approval for under-16s to create social media profiles.

Despite cross-party agreement and proposals from certain figures to copy Australia's lead, a US-wide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

International Views

Apart from the West, other countries are similarly considering moves.

• Malaysia plans to restrict social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, international organizations adopt a more cautious tone. The UN children's agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even backfire". The body points out that the internet can be a "critical link" for vulnerable young people and that government action should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to invest in safety.

Even as this global conversation evolves, the actions of Australia and others show that states around the world are less and less content to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.