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The Australian decisive action to ban social networking access for young people below 16 is sparking debate internationally. Politicians, campaigners, and families are observing intently to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for other nations.

European Trend

Throughout Europe, a growing number of countries are considering similar measures.

• Denmark plans a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader arguing that phones and apps are "robbing our kids' innocence". A law may be formalized soon.
• Norway is preparing to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to protect children from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is developing a digital wallet to confirm the age and identity of social media users. Officials have stated that an similar ban is "an measures under consideration".
• In Spain, the leader has called on the legislature to pass a bill raising the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a related move, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has advised parents to block their kids from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the EU parliament has passed a advisory motion calling for a ban for minors unless guardian approval is given. Although it cautions of the "habit-forming" nature of these platforms, the move does not create mandatory rules.

"A clear age barrier is a useful foundation," commented one European lawmaker driving the measure.

The UK: A Watchful Eye

Across Britain, the administration has not ruled out a potential ban, stating that "nothing is discarded" but maintaining any policy must be "based on robust data".

Last year, momentum grew behind a bill to enact restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was eventually modified. Nonetheless, the government committed to conduct more studies the topic.

Charities have raised concerns. One foundation set up by the family of a girl who was lost after encountering harmful social media material suggests that a simple age ban could fail to improve online safety and could lead to a "cliff edge" of harm when teens turn 16.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the inability of the social media companies to create platforms and apps that are secure and age appropriate for minors," stated a influential child protection advocate.

The United States: A Fragmented Approach

Across America, action is mostly occurring at the local government level amid federal gridlock.

• Utah demands adult approval for under-18s to use social media and controls late-night use.
• Florida has enacted a measure prohibiting under-14s from accessing social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a rule restricting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with extra use requiring adult consent.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced measures demanding parental consent for minors to open social media accounts.

Even with cross-party agreement and proposals from some figures to mimic the Australian lead, a nationwide ban is currently seen as improbable.

International Perspectives

Outside of Europe and the US, additional countries are also taking action.

• Malaysia intends to ban social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• Brazil has lifted the required age for one major platform to 16.

But, international organizations take a more cautious stance. The UN children's agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions have downsides and "might prove counterproductive". The body highlights that social networks can be a "critical link" for vulnerable youth and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to prioritize user protection.

While this international debate unfolds, the policies of the Australian government and its followers indicate that states around the world are less and less willing to stand by for platforms to make changes on their own.