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Australia's decisive move to ban social networking access for young people below 16 is sparking debate around the globe. Officials, campaigners, and families are watching closely to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Movement

Across Europe, a growing number of states are moving toward parallel restrictions.

• Denmark has announced a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the PM arguing that smartphones and networks are "taking away our kids' childhood". A law may be enacted next year.
• Norway is preparing to introduce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard children from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the user details of social media account holders. The media minister have indicated that an Australia-style ban is "a potential options on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has called on parliament to enact a proposal increasing the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a related action, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The administration in The Dutch government has advised families to restrict their children from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has approved a symbolic statement calling for a ban for under-16s except if a parent decides otherwise is provided. Although it highlights of the "addictive" quality of these platforms, the resolution does not create binding law.

"A strong age restriction is a good starting point," commented one parliamentarian supporting the initiative.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Approach

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has remained open to a potential ban, stating that "no option is off the table" but insisting any decision must be "supported by strong evidence".

Previously, momentum gathered behind a proposal to introduce limits on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately weakened. Nonetheless, the government pledged to conduct more studies the issue.

Advocacy groups have voiced warnings. A prominent charity set up by the loved ones of a girl who died after being exposed to disturbing online content suggests that a strict age ban may not protect children and could create a "sudden drop-off" of harm when young people turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the refusal of the tech sector to create tools that are safe and suitable for young users," said a leading child protection advocate.

The United States: A Decentralized Approach

In the United States, regulation is primarily happening at the local level due to national stalemate.

• Utah requires guardian permission for minors to use social media and controls overnight use.
• Florida has passed a law prohibiting under-14s from accessing social media, though it faces court battles.
• Virginia has passed a rule restricting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with any further use needing a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed bills mandating parental consent for minors to set up social media profiles.

Despite cross-party agreement and proposals from certain individuals to follow Australia's path, a US-wide ban is presently seen as improbable.

Worldwide Views

Outside of these regions, other countries are also considering moves.

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

Yet, world organizations take a more cautious stance. The UN children's agency has warned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "may even have unintended consequences". The organization highlights that the internet can be a "critical link" for marginalized youth and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to invest in child safeguards.

As this global conversation continues, the policies of the Australian government and several other countries indicate that states around the world are less and less content to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.