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The Australian decisive policy to restrict social networking access for those under 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Politicians, safety advocates, and parents are monitoring intently to see if this approach will set a precedent for countries abroad.

The European Movement

Throughout Europe, a increasing group of states are exploring parallel measures.

• Denmark has announced a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the leader arguing that phones and apps are "stealing our children's childhood". The policy may be passed next year.
• Norway is preparing to implement a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to shield children from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is introducing a digital ID system to confirm the user details of social media participants. Authorities have stated that an Australian-model ban remains "an options on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has urged the legislature to approve a law lifting the access age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a similar step, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has urged families to prevent their children from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has passed a advisory statement supporting a ban for under-16s unless guardian approval is provided. Even though it highlights of the "addictive" design of these platforms, the step does not establish mandatory rules.

"A clear age restriction is a solid starting point," stated the European lawmaker supporting the initiative.

Britain: A Cautious Stance

Across Britain, the government has kept open a potential ban, emphasizing that "no measure is off the table" but insisting any decision must be "based on strong data".

Last year, interest gathered behind a proposal to enact restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually weakened. Nonetheless, the administration vowed to investigate the topic.

Advocacy groups have voiced concerns. One foundation founded by the relatives of a girl who died after being exposed to disturbing social media material suggests that a simple age ban may not make platforms safer and could create a "cliff edge" of exposure when young people turn 16.

"This ban is a response to the failure of the social media companies to create products and services that are appropriate and age appropriate for young users," stated a prominent child protection advocate.

America: A State-by-State Landscape

Across America, legislation is primarily unfolding at the state level amid federal inaction.

• The state of Utah demands guardian permission for minors to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a measure barring children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has enacted a law restricting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with extra time dependent on a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise introduced measures mandating adult authorization for teenagers to set up social media presences.

Despite bipartisan support and calls from some figures to copy this example, a nationwide ban is currently seen as improbable.

Worldwide Perspectives

Apart from Europe and the US, other nations are similarly taking action.

• Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for under-16s effective next year.
• Brazil has raised the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, world bodies strike a more cautious tone. A major UN agency has advised that social media bans have downsides and "might prove counterproductive". The body highlights that social networks can be a "critical link" for vulnerable children and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to prioritize user protection.

While this global debate continues, the policies of the Australian government and its followers demonstrate that governments globally are no longer prepared to delay for tech companies to make changes on their own.