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The Australian controversial move to ban social networking access for those under 16 is creating waves around the globe. Officials, child protection groups, and guardians are monitoring intently to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

The European Momentum

In Europe, a growing chorus of countries are considering similar measures.

• The Danish government has stated a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM stating that smartphones and platforms are "taking away our youngsters' innocence". A law could be enacted soon.
• The Norwegian government is planning to implement a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to shield young people from the "power of the AI".
• The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to authenticate the age and identity of social media participants. The media minister have suggested that an similar ban remains "a potential tools under consideration".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked the legislature to enact a proposal lifting the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has recommended a similar action, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The government in the Netherlands has urged guardians to prevent their children from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has passed a symbolic statement demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 without a parent decides otherwise is provided. Even though it warns of the "addictive" quality of these platforms, the resolution does not create mandatory rules.

"An effective age limit is a solid starting point," said one parliamentarian behind the initiative.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the administration has remained open to a potential ban, arguing that "no option is off the table" but maintaining any action must be "grounded in conclusive data".

Earlier, momentum grew behind a bill to introduce controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually watered down. Nonetheless, the administration pledged to further research the issue.

Advocacy groups have expressed concerns. A prominent charity founded by the loved ones of a teenager who died after encountering disturbing platform posts suggests that a blanket age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could create a "sudden drop-off" of risk when young people reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a answer to the inability of the social media companies to create platforms and apps that are appropriate and age appropriate for children," said a prominent online safety campaigner.

America: A Decentralized Approach

Stateside, regulation is primarily unfolding at the state level amid national stalemate.

• Utah mandates parental consent for under-18s to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has passed a law barring children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• Virginia has approved a law limiting teenagers to a single hour of social media use per day, with extra access requiring adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly passed measures demanding parental consent for teenagers to open social media profiles.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from certain individuals to mimic Australia's example, a US-wide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

International Outlook

Apart from Europe and the US, further countries are also taking action.

• The Malaysian government aims to prohibit social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, international bodies adopt a more cautious position. The UN children's agency has advised that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "may even prove counterproductive". The body points out that online platforms can be a "critical link" for marginalized children and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to invest in user protection.

While this international discussion continues, the policies of the Australian government and its followers demonstrate that policymakers internationally are increasingly willing to stand by for platforms to make changes on their own.