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Australia's bold policy to prohibit social networking access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Politicians, child protection groups, and families are monitoring closely to see if this approach will become a template for countries abroad.

The European Momentum

In Europe, a growing chorus of states are exploring similar bans.

• Denmark plans a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader stating that smartphones and networks are "taking away our youngsters' innocence". The policy could be passed next year.
• Norway is planning to implement a access barrier of 15, citing the need to safeguard the young from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is introducing a digital ID system to authenticate the identity and age of social media users. Authorities have suggested that an Australian-model ban is "an options under consideration".
• In Spain, the president has called on lawmakers to approve a proposal raising the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a similar step, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has advised families to prevent their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has adopted a advisory resolution calling for a ban for minors unless parental consent is provided. Even though it warns of the "compulsive" nature of these services, the step does not establish enforceable legislation.

"A clear age limit is a good foundation," said a leading MEP driving the measure.

Britain: A Cautious Stance

In the UK, the government has remained open to a possible ban, stating that "no measure is discarded" but maintaining any decision must be "grounded in conclusive research".

Last year, momentum gathered behind a legislative effort to enact controls on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately modified. Nonetheless, the government committed to further research the issue.

Advocacy groups have expressed apprehensions. An organization set up by the loved ones of a teenager who took her own life after encountering disturbing platform posts suggests that a blanket age ban might not protect children and could create a "dangerous transition" of exposure when users reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a response to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to design tools that are secure and fit for minors," commented a prominent online safety campaigner.

The United States: A State-by-State Landscape

In the United States, regulation is primarily happening at the state level against a backdrop of national inaction.

• Utah requires adult approval for under-18s to use social media and restricts late-night use.
• Florida has signed a measure prohibiting under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a law capping under-16s to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with additional use requiring adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also enacted measures requiring adult authorization for minors to create social media profiles.

Even with widespread concern and calls from various individuals to follow the Australian path, a nationwide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

International Views

Beyond Europe and the US, other states are likewise taking action.

• The Malaysian government plans to ban social media for teenagers effective next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has increased the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, global agencies take a more nuanced stance. The UN children's agency has warned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "might backfire". The organization highlights that the internet can be a "vital connection" for isolated youth and that government action should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to invest in safety.

While this international discussion unfolds, the policies of Australia and others indicate that policymakers around the world are increasingly willing to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.