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The Australian bold action to prohibit social networking access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Officials, child protection groups, and guardians are watching intently to see if this strategy will set a precedent for countries abroad.

European Trend

In Europe, a increasing chorus of nations are considering comparable measures.

• Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM stating that phones and platforms are "taking away our children's innocence". Legislation may be enacted next year.
• Norway is planning to enforce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to protect children from the "manipulative force of the AI".
• The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to authenticate the age and identity of social media account holders. Authorities have suggested that an Australian-model ban could be "one of the tools under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has called on lawmakers to approve a proposal lifting the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has recommended a similar action, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has recommended parents to block their youngsters from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has approved a non-binding resolution calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 without guardian approval is provided. While it highlights of the "compulsive" nature of these services, the resolution does not enact binding law.

"A strong age limit is a solid starting point," said one parliamentarian supporting the initiative.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Stance

In the UK, the administration has remained open to a future ban, arguing that "no option is off the table" but stressing any decision must be "grounded in conclusive evidence".

Previously, momentum grew behind a proposal to impose limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately modified. Instead, the administration pledged to conduct more studies the matter.

Charities have raised apprehensions. An organization set up by the loved ones of a girl who was lost after being exposed to dangerous platform posts contends that a strict age ban might not improve online safety and could result in a "cliff edge" of risk when users become eligible.

"This ban is a answer to the refusal of the tech sector to create platforms and apps that are appropriate and age appropriate for children," stated a leading online safety campaigner.

The US: A Fragmented Landscape

In the United States, legislation is mostly unfolding at the state level due to national stalemate.

• Utah mandates adult approval for minors to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• Florida has passed a bill prohibiting children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it faces court battles.
• Virginia has approved a law capping minors to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with extra use requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed measures mandating guardian approval for minors to open social media profiles.

Despite cross-party agreement and proposals from various politicians to copy the Australian path, a federal ban is right now seen as unlikely.

Global Perspectives

Outside of the West, further nations are similarly considering moves.

• The Malaysian government plans to prohibit social media for under-16s effective next year.
• Brazil has increased the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, world agencies adopt a more cautious stance. The UN children's agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "could have unintended consequences". The body points out that the internet can be a "critical link" for marginalized young people and that government action should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to prioritize user protection.

As this international discussion unfolds, the actions of this nation and several other countries demonstrate that governments globally are increasingly prepared to wait for tech companies to self-regulate.