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The nation's decisive policy to prohibit social networking access for individuals under sixteen is sparking debate worldwide. Officials, child protection groups, and parents are monitoring closely to see if this tactic will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Momentum

Throughout Europe, a rising number of nations are considering parallel measures.

• The Danish government plans a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the PM arguing that phones and platforms are "stealing our children's innocence". The policy could be passed next year.
• Norway is preparing to introduce a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to shield the young from the "influence of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is developing a digital wallet to authenticate the age and identity of social media users. The media minister have suggested that an Australian-model ban is "one of the tools in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has asked lawmakers to approve a proposal raising the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has endorsed a similar step, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in The Dutch government has advised parents to block their kids from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has adopted a non-binding resolution demanding a ban for minors except if a parent decides otherwise is provided. Even though it highlights of the "compulsive" nature of these platforms, the resolution does not create binding law.

"A strong age barrier is a solid foundation," stated one European lawmaker supporting the initiative.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Stance

In the UK, the administration has kept open a potential ban, emphasizing that "no option is off the table" but maintaining any action must be "supported by robust data".

Earlier, momentum built behind a legislative effort to impose limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately modified. Instead, the administration vowed to conduct more studies the topic.

Advocacy groups have voiced apprehensions. An organization established by the family of a girl who was lost after encountering dangerous online content suggests that a simple age ban could fail to improve online safety and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of harm when young people reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a response to the inability of the social media companies to design platforms and apps that are secure and fit for minors," said a influential online safety campaigner.

The United States: A State-by-State Approach

In the United States, legislation is primarily happening at the local level against a backdrop of country-wide gridlock.

• Utah demands adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• Florida has signed a measure prohibiting those below 14 from accessing social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting under-16s to one hour of social media time per day, with any further access dependent on parental permission.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced measures requiring parental consent for teenagers to set up social media accounts.

Despite bipartisan support and suggestions from certain figures to mimic the Australian example, a nationwide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

International Views

Beyond the West, further countries are similarly taking action.

• The Malaysian government intends to prohibit social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the required age for one major platform to 16.

But, world organizations strike a more measured tone. A major UN agency has advised that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "may even prove counterproductive". The agency highlights that online platforms can be a "critical link" for marginalized youth and that bans should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to prioritize child safeguards.

Even as this global debate unfolds, the policies of the Australian government and its followers show that governments around the world are less and less prepared to wait for tech companies to act voluntarily.