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The nation's decisive move to ban social networking access for individuals under sixteen is sending ripples worldwide. Politicians, child protection groups, and parents are monitoring with great interest to see if this approach will inspire imitation for other nations.

The European Movement

Throughout Europe, a increasing group of nations are moving toward comparable restrictions.

• Denmark has announced a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister stating that mobile devices and networks are "stealing our kids' innocence". Legislation may be enacted in the coming year.
• Norway is planning to introduce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard young people from the "power of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is introducing a digital ID system to authenticate the identity and age of social media account holders. Officials have indicated that an Australian-model ban could be "a potential tools on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the president has urged parliament to approve a law lifting the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a similar move, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The government in The Netherlands has advised families to restrict their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has adopted a non-binding statement calling for a ban for minors except if parental consent is given. While it highlights of the "habit-forming" design of these apps, the resolution does not establish mandatory rules.

"A strong age limit is a solid foundation," stated one MEP driving the initiative.

Britain: A Watchful Eye

In the UK, the government has kept open a potential ban, emphasizing that "no measure is discarded" but insisting any decision must be "based on conclusive evidence".

Previously, interest built behind a legislative effort to enact controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end weakened. Instead, the administration pledged to conduct more studies the matter.

Advocacy groups have voiced apprehensions. An organization set up by the relatives of a teenager who died after viewing harmful online content argues that a simple age ban might not protect children and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of exposure when young people turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the refusal of the tech sector to build products and services that are safe and age appropriate for children," stated a leading child protection advocate.

America: A State-by-State Landscape

Stateside, regulation is largely happening at the state level due to country-wide stalemate.

• The state of Utah requires guardian permission for minors to use social media and controls overnight use.
• The state of Florida has signed a bill barring children under fourteen from joining social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• The state of Virginia has approved a law restricting minors to a single hour of social media access per day, with any further use dependent on a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise introduced bills mandating guardian approval for minors to set up social media presences.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from various individuals to copy Australia's lead, a US-wide ban is presently seen as unlikely.

Global Views

Apart from Europe and the US, further states are likewise considering moves.

• The Malaysian government aims to restrict social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• Brazil has lifted the access age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, world bodies take a more measured position. A major UN agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "may even have unintended consequences". The agency notes that social networks can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable young people and that bans should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to prioritize user protection.

While this global discussion continues, the policies of Australia and its followers show that governments internationally are less and less willing to wait for the industry to act voluntarily.