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Australia's bold action to prohibit social networking access for young people below 16 is creating waves internationally. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and parents are watching intently to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

European Movement

In Europe, a increasing chorus of nations are moving toward parallel bans.

• Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the PM arguing that mobile devices and platforms are "stealing our youngsters' innocence". The policy may be formalized soon.
• Norway is set to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to shield children from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is introducing a online verification tool to confirm the user details of social media account holders. The media minister have indicated that an Australian-model ban could be "an options under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has asked lawmakers to pass a law lifting the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a comparable step, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has urged guardians to restrict their children from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has approved a non-binding resolution supporting a ban for minors unless guardian approval is given. Even though it highlights of the "addictive" nature of these apps, the resolution does not create enforceable legislation.

"A strong age limit is a good foundation," stated the European lawmaker behind the initiative.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Eye

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has remained open to a potential ban, arguing that "no option is discarded" but maintaining any action must be "grounded in robust research".

Last year, support built behind a bill to impose controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end weakened. Instead, the administration vowed to further research the issue.

Charities have expressed apprehensions. One foundation established by the family of a young person who took her own life after encountering disturbing online content argues that a strict age ban could fail to improve online safety and could result in a "cliff edge" of risk when teens become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the failure of the tech sector to design platforms and apps that are safe and suitable for children," stated a prominent peer.

The United States: A Decentralized Approach

Stateside, legislation is mostly unfolding at the local government level due to national gridlock.

• Utah requires guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has passed a law banning under-14s from joining social media, though it faces court battles.
• Virginia has enacted a rule restricting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with extra use requiring a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise passed bills requiring parental consent for teenagers to set up social media profiles.

Even with bipartisan support and proposals from certain politicians to mimic the Australian path, a US-wide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Perspectives

Apart from these regions, additional countries are likewise taking action.

• The Malaysian government aims to restrict social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• Brazil has lifted the access age for Instagram to 16.

However, international agencies adopt a more measured position. A major UN agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "may even prove counterproductive". The organization notes that the internet can be a "critical link" for marginalized young people and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to invest in child safeguards.

As this global debate unfolds, the steps of Australia and others show that policymakers around the world are no longer willing to wait for tech companies to act voluntarily.