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Australia's decisive policy to ban social networking access for those under 16 is creating waves internationally. Officials, child protection groups, and parents are monitoring intently to see if this approach will become a template for countries abroad.

Across Europe Movement

Across Europe, a increasing group of countries are exploring parallel bans.

• The Danish government has announced a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the leader declaring that mobile devices and networks are "taking away our kids' childhood". Legislation could be formalized next year.
• The Norwegian government is set to implement a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to shield the young from the "influence of the AI".
• Ireland is introducing a digital ID system to confirm the age and identity of social media account holders. The media minister have indicated that an Australian-model ban is "one of the options in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the president has asked lawmakers to enact a law lifting the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has recommended a comparable move, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in The Dutch government has recommended families to block their children from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has passed a advisory motion demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 without guardian approval is granted. Although it warns of the "habit-forming" design of these services, the step does not enact enforceable legislation.

"A clear age restriction is a useful first step," stated one European lawmaker supporting the resolution.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Eye

In the UK, the leadership has not ruled out a future ban, arguing that "no measure is off the table" but maintaining any action must be "based on robust data".

Previously, support built behind a legislative effort to enact controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end weakened. However, the administration committed to conduct more studies the topic.

Charities have expressed apprehensions. A prominent charity established by the family of a girl who died after being exposed to dangerous platform posts contends that a strict age ban may not make platforms safer and could create a "sudden drop-off" of harm when users reach the legal age.

"This ban is a answer to the inability of the Silicon Valley to build products and services that are secure and age appropriate for minors," said a prominent online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Fragmented Approach

Stateside, legislation is mostly happening at the local level due to federal inaction.

• The state of Utah demands adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and controls late-night use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a law banning under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a rule restricting minors to one hour of social media use per day, with additional access dependent on parental permission.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly enacted laws requiring guardian approval for under-16s to set up social media accounts.

Despite bipartisan support and suggestions from various politicians to mimic this lead, a federal ban is right now seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Outlook

Apart from the West, additional countries are similarly exploring options.

• The Malaysian government plans to prohibit social media for teenagers effective next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, international agencies adopt a more cautious tone. The UN children's agency has advised that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even prove counterproductive". The organization points out that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for isolated children and that government action should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to prioritize safety.

As this global debate evolves, the steps of Australia and several other countries indicate that states internationally are increasingly willing to stand by for the industry to make changes on their own.