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Australia's controversial policy to restrict social networking access for young people below 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Officials, campaigners, and parents are monitoring with great interest to see if this tactic will set a precedent for countries abroad.

The European Movement

In Europe, a rising group of nations are considering comparable restrictions.

• The Danish government has announced a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader arguing that phones and platforms are "robbing our youngsters' childhood". Legislation may be formalized next year.
• Norway is preparing to introduce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to shield the young from the "influence of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is working on a online verification tool to authenticate the user details of social media account holders. The media minister have suggested that an Australia-style ban could be "one of the tools in reserve".
• In Spain, the leader has urged the legislature to pass a proposal raising the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has suggested a comparable action, including an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in The Dutch government has urged guardians to prevent their kids from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has passed a symbolic motion demanding a ban for under-16s unless a parent decides otherwise is granted. Although it cautions of the "compulsive" quality of these services, the move does not enact mandatory rules.

"A clear age restriction is a good foundation," stated a leading MEP behind the initiative.

The United Kingdom: A Watchful Eye

In the UK, the leadership has kept open a potential ban, stating that "no measure is discarded" but insisting any action must be "supported by conclusive research".

Last year, interest grew behind a proposal to impose controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately modified. Instead, the administration pledged to conduct more studies the topic.

Campaign organizations have voiced warnings. One foundation founded by the family of a young person who was lost after viewing dangerous online content contends that a simple age ban might not protect children and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of harm when teens turn 16.

"This ban is a reaction to the inability of the tech sector to create tools that are appropriate and fit for minors," said a prominent online safety campaigner.

America: A State-by-State Landscape

In the United States, legislation is mostly happening at the regional level amid national inaction.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and controls overnight use.
• The state of Florida has signed a law prohibiting children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has passed a rule capping under-16s to a single hour of social media access per day, with extra time requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise introduced laws requiring adult authorization for minors to open social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and suggestions from some individuals to copy the Australian lead, a nationwide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Views

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

• The Malaysian government plans to ban social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• Brazil has increased the required age for Instagram to 16.

But, international organizations take a more cautious stance. The UN children's agency has advised that social media bans carry risks and "may even have unintended consequences". The agency notes that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for isolated young people and that government action should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to prioritize user protection.

As this global conversation evolves, the steps of this nation and its followers show that states globally are increasingly content to delay for the industry to act voluntarily.