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The Australian bold policy to prohibit social networking access for those under 16 is sending ripples internationally. Politicians, safety advocates, and guardians are watching closely to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

The European Momentum

Across Europe, a rising chorus of states are exploring similar restrictions.

• The Danish government plans a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the PM stating that mobile devices and platforms are "stealing our kids' childhood". The policy may be formalized soon.
• Norway is set to implement a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard young people from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to verify the user details of social media users. Officials have suggested that an Australian-model ban remains "a potential tools in reserve".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged parliament to approve a proposal increasing the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a similar move, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in The Dutch government has urged guardians to block their children from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has passed a advisory motion supporting a ban for minors without a parent decides otherwise is provided. While it highlights of the "addictive" design of these apps, the move does not create enforceable legislation.

"An effective age barrier is a good starting point," said one MEP behind the resolution.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Stance

In the UK, the administration has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "no option is off the table" but stressing any action must be "supported by strong research".

Earlier, support built behind a proposal to enact limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately watered down. However, the government committed to further research the issue.

Advocacy groups have voiced warnings. One foundation established by the loved ones of a young person who died after encountering harmful online content suggests that a strict age ban may not improve online safety and could create a "cliff edge" of exposure when teens become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a response to the failure of the tech sector to design products and services that are secure and fit for young users," commented a leading online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Decentralized Picture

Stateside, action is largely unfolding at the local level against a backdrop of federal inaction.

• The state of Utah mandates parental consent for under-18s to use social media and controls late-night use.
• The state of Florida has passed a bill barring children under fourteen from joining social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a law capping under-16s to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with extra access needing a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced bills mandating guardian approval for under-16s to open social media accounts.

Despite cross-party agreement and suggestions from some politicians to follow this example, a nationwide ban is currently seen as improbable.

International Outlook

Apart from these regions, other states are also taking action.

• Malaysia plans to ban social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the access age for one major platform to 16.

However, global bodies strike a more measured tone. A major UN agency has warned that social media bans have downsides and "might prove counterproductive". The organization notes that social networks can be a "vital connection" for marginalized young people and that bans should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to prioritize child safeguards.

As this international debate continues, the actions of the Australian government and its followers indicate that policymakers internationally are no longer content to delay for tech companies to act voluntarily.