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Australia's bold policy to prohibit social networking access for young people below 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Lawmakers, campaigners, and parents are watching with great interest to see if this strategy will become a template for the rest of the world.

The European Trend

In Europe, a growing group of states are exploring parallel restrictions.

• The Danish government has announced a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader arguing that smartphones and platforms are "robbing our kids' innocence". Legislation may be passed soon.
• Norway is set to introduce a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to protect children from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to verify the age and identity of social media participants. Authorities have suggested that an Australia-style ban remains "a potential tools in reserve".
• In Spain, the president has urged parliament to pass a law raising the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a comparable move, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has urged families to prevent their children from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has passed a advisory motion supporting a ban for minors except if parental consent is given. Even though it highlights of the "addictive" quality of these apps, the move does not enact enforceable legislation.

"A clear age limit is a useful starting point," commented a leading European lawmaker driving the measure.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Eye

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has kept open a possible ban, arguing that "nothing is being dismissed" but maintaining any action must be "based on conclusive evidence".

Last year, interest gathered behind a legislative effort to introduce limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end watered down. Instead, the administration pledged to conduct more studies the topic.

Campaign organizations have expressed concerns. One foundation founded by the family of a teenager who was lost after encountering harmful social media material argues that a blanket age ban might not make platforms safer and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when young people reach the legal age.

"This ban is a answer to the failure of the tech sector to design platforms and apps that are safe and age appropriate for young users," said a influential peer.

The US: A Fragmented Picture

Across America, regulation is mostly happening at the regional level amid national gridlock.

• Utah demands guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and controls overnight use.
• Florida has signed a measure prohibiting children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• Virginia has passed a law capping under-16s to one hour of social media time per day, with extra access needing parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed measures mandating parental consent for teenagers to open social media presences.

Despite bipartisan support and calls from certain politicians to follow this path, a US-wide ban is currently seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Views

Apart from these regions, further countries are likewise exploring options.

• Malaysia plans to ban social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has lifted the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, international bodies take a more cautious tone. The UN children's agency has warned that social media bans have downsides and "might prove counterproductive". The agency points out that the internet can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable youth and that government action should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to improve child safeguards.

Even as this worldwide conversation unfolds, the actions of the Australian government and its followers demonstrate that states internationally are increasingly prepared to wait for tech companies to self-regulate.