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The nation's decisive policy to ban social networking access for young people below 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Officials, safety advocates, and guardians are monitoring with great interest to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for other nations.

European Momentum

Throughout Europe, a growing group of states are exploring parallel measures.

• Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the PM declaring that mobile devices and networks are "robbing our children's innocence". Legislation may be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is preparing to implement a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to safeguard children from the "power of the AI".
• Ireland is developing a online verification tool to confirm the identity and age of social media users. Authorities have suggested that an similar ban remains "a potential options on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the president has asked the legislature to enact a law lifting the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has recommended a comparable action, including an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has recommended families to block their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has passed a non-binding resolution calling for a ban for minors except if guardian approval is granted. Even though it warns of the "habit-forming" nature of these apps, the move does not enact binding law.

"A strong age limit is a useful first step," stated one parliamentarian behind the resolution.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Approach

Across Britain, the leadership has not ruled out a future ban, stating that "no measure is discarded" but stressing any policy must be "supported by strong evidence".

Earlier, interest built behind a proposal to enact restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end watered down. However, the administration committed to conduct more studies the matter.

Advocacy groups have raised apprehensions. One foundation established by the loved ones of a teenager who was lost after encountering disturbing online content suggests that a simple age ban may not protect children and could lead to a "cliff edge" of risk when young people turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a response to the inability of the social media companies to create platforms and apps that are safe and age appropriate for children," stated a leading online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Fragmented Picture

Stateside, legislation is mostly happening at the regional level against a backdrop of national gridlock.

• Utah demands guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and limits overnight use.
• Florida has signed a law prohibiting children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it faces court battles.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a rule restricting teenagers to one hour of social media access per day, with additional access dependent on adult consent.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted laws mandating parental consent for teenagers to create social media profiles.

Even with bipartisan support and suggestions from some figures to follow this example, a US-wide ban is right now seen as improbable.

International Outlook

Outside of Europe and the US, additional states are also taking action.

• The Malaysian government plans to ban social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the access age for Instagram to 16.

However, global organizations strike a more nuanced tone. A major UN agency has advised that social media bans pose dangers and "might have unintended consequences". The organization highlights that the internet can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable young people and that bans should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to improve user protection.

As this worldwide debate unfolds, the actions of the Australian government and others show that states around the world are less and less content to wait for the industry to act voluntarily.