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Australia's controversial move to ban social networking access for young people below 16 is sparking debate worldwide. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and guardians are monitoring with great interest to see if this tactic will become a template for countries abroad.

European Movement

Across Europe, a increasing number of states are exploring parallel restrictions.

• Denmark has announced a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM arguing that smartphones and platforms are "stealing our youngsters' innocence". Legislation may be formalized in the coming year.
• Norway is planning to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to safeguard the young from the "manipulative force of the AI".
• The Irish government is working on a digital wallet to confirm the user details of social media participants. Authorities have suggested that an Australia-style ban could be "one of the measures under consideration".
• In Spain, the leader has urged the legislature to approve a proposal lifting the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has endorsed a comparable action, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has urged parents to block their children from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has adopted a non-binding statement demanding a ban for under-16s unless guardian approval is granted. Even though it highlights of the "habit-forming" design of these services, the resolution does not create mandatory rules.

"An effective age limit is a solid foundation," said a leading MEP driving the initiative.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Approach

Across Britain, the leadership has not ruled out a future ban, stating that "nothing is being dismissed" but maintaining any decision must be "grounded in strong evidence".

Last year, interest gathered behind a proposal to impose controls on social media use by minors, but it was in the end modified. Nonetheless, the government committed to investigate the topic.

Charities have voiced warnings. One foundation established by the relatives of a girl who took her own life after viewing dangerous platform posts suggests that a simple age ban could fail to protect children and could create a "dangerous transition" of risk when young people turn 16.

"This ban is a reaction to the failure of the tech sector to build products and services that are appropriate and age appropriate for minors," commented a leading peer.

The United States: A Decentralized Approach

In the United States, action is primarily occurring at the regional government level due to country-wide inaction.

• Utah mandates parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• The state of Florida has passed a bill barring under-14s from accessing social media, though it faces court battles.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting minors to a single hour of social media access per day, with any further access needing adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly passed measures mandating adult authorization for minors to set up social media profiles.

Despite cross-party agreement and calls from various figures to copy this example, a US-wide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Outlook

Outside of Europe and the US, further states are also considering moves.

• The Malaysian government aims to ban social media for those under sixteen starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, global agencies strike a more cautious tone. Unicef has warned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "could have unintended consequences". The agency notes that online platforms can be a "critical link" for marginalized youth and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to prioritize user protection.

While this global debate unfolds, the policies of this nation and others show that policymakers internationally are less and less prepared to stand by for tech companies to make changes on their own.