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Australia's bold policy to prohibit social networking access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples internationally. Lawmakers, campaigners, and guardians are observing intently to see if this tactic will become a template for countries abroad.

European Momentum

In Europe, a increasing number of states are moving toward parallel restrictions.

• The Danish government has announced a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM declaring that smartphones and apps are "robbing our children's childhood". The policy is expected to be enacted next year.
• Norway is planning to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to protect young people from the "influence of the AI".
• The Irish government is developing a digital wallet to authenticate the identity and age of social media account holders. Authorities have stated that an Australia-style ban is "an measures in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has asked the legislature to approve a proposal raising the access age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has suggested a similar move, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has advised families to block their children from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has passed a symbolic motion demanding a ban for under-16s except if parental consent is given. While it cautions of the "addictive" nature of these services, the step does not create enforceable legislation.

"A strong age barrier is a useful starting point," stated a leading European lawmaker behind the initiative.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Approach

For the United Kingdom, the government has kept open a future ban, emphasizing that "nothing is off the table" but insisting any policy must be "grounded in conclusive evidence".

Previously, momentum built behind a bill to impose restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately modified. Instead, the government pledged to conduct more studies the matter.

Campaign organizations have raised warnings. One foundation established by the loved ones of a teenager who died after encountering harmful social media material argues that a strict age ban could fail to protect children and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of harm when young people turn 16.

"This ban is a response to the inability of the tech sector to create products and services that are safe and age appropriate for young users," stated a influential child protection advocate.

The United States: A State-by-State Approach

In the United States, regulation is mostly happening at the regional level amid federal gridlock.

• Utah requires parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and limits overnight use.
• The state of Florida has signed a measure prohibiting children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• Virginia has enacted a law capping under-16s to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with any further use requiring adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also introduced measures requiring adult authorization for under-16s to create social media accounts.

Even with widespread concern and proposals from various figures to follow this lead, a nationwide ban is right now seen as improbable.

International Outlook

Apart from these regions, other countries are similarly taking action.

• Malaysia intends to restrict social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• Brazil has increased the required age for one major platform to 16.

However, international agencies adopt a more nuanced stance. A major UN agency has advised that age-based restrictions have downsides and "could prove counterproductive". The agency points out that online platforms can be a "critical link" for marginalized children and that government action should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to invest in user protection.

As this global discussion unfolds, the actions of the Australian government and several other countries indicate that states internationally are less and less content to delay for platforms to self-regulate.