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The nation's bold move to restrict social networking access for young people below 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Politicians, child protection groups, and guardians are monitoring with great interest to see if this approach will inspire imitation for other nations.

European Trend

In Europe, a increasing number of countries are exploring similar measures.

• Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader declaring that smartphones and platforms are "taking away our kids' childhood". Legislation is expected to be passed next year.
• Norway is preparing to introduce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to safeguard children from the "power of the AI".
• Ireland is developing a online verification tool to authenticate the user details of social media account holders. Authorities have suggested that an similar ban could be "a potential options in reserve".
• In Spain, the president has urged lawmakers to pass a law increasing the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a comparable move, including an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The administration in The Netherlands has advised guardians to restrict their youngsters from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has approved a advisory resolution demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 without guardian approval is provided. Although it cautions of the "compulsive" nature of these services, the resolution does not enact binding law.

"A clear age limit is a solid foundation," commented the MEP supporting the measure.

Britain: A Cautious Stance

For the United Kingdom, the administration has kept open a future ban, emphasizing that "no measure is discarded" but maintaining any policy must be "grounded in strong evidence".

Earlier, momentum built behind a legislative effort to introduce restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately modified. Nonetheless, the government committed to conduct more studies the matter.

Campaign organizations have voiced concerns. An organization established by the loved ones of a young person who took her own life after being exposed to harmful platform posts argues that a blanket age ban may not make platforms safer and could create a "sudden drop-off" of harm when teens reach the legal age.

"This ban is a response to the failure of the social media companies to create tools that are secure and age appropriate for young users," stated a influential child protection advocate.

America: A State-by-State Landscape

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

• Utah demands parental consent for minors to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has signed a law banning children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has passed a rule capping teenagers to one hour of social media access per day, with extra use dependent on a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly enacted measures demanding guardian approval for minors to set up social media profiles.

Even with widespread concern and proposals from certain individuals to copy the Australian lead, a federal ban is currently seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Perspectives

Outside of the West, further states are similarly taking action.

• Malaysia plans to restrict social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
• Brazil has lifted the required age for Instagram to 16.

But, international organizations take a more nuanced stance. Unicef has cautioned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "could have unintended consequences". The agency notes that social networks can be a "lifeline" for marginalized youth and that bans should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to prioritize safety.

As this international discussion continues, the policies of Australia and several other countries demonstrate that policymakers around the world are less and less prepared to delay for the industry to make changes on their own.