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Australia's controversial policy to prohibit social networking access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and parents are observing intently to see if this strategy will set a precedent for countries abroad.

Across Europe Movement

Throughout Europe, a increasing number of countries are exploring similar restrictions.

• Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM declaring that phones and platforms are "robbing our kids' childhood". The policy is expected to be formalized soon.
• Norway is planning to introduce a access barrier of 15, citing the need to safeguard the young from the "power of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the identity and age of social media users. Officials have stated that an similar ban could be "a potential tools on the table".
• In Spain, the president has urged lawmakers to approve a proposal increasing the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has recommended a similar step, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has urged parents to restrict their kids from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has adopted a symbolic statement supporting a ban for under-16s unless guardian approval is provided. While it cautions of the "addictive" design of these services, the resolution does not create enforceable legislation.

"An effective age limit is a useful first step," said one parliamentarian behind the measure.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Approach

For the United Kingdom, the administration has remained open to a potential ban, emphasizing that "nothing is being dismissed" but maintaining any policy must be "supported by strong evidence".

Last year, momentum grew behind a legislative effort to impose limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately watered down. Instead, the government pledged to further research the matter.

Advocacy groups have expressed warnings. An organization founded by the loved ones of a young person who died after being exposed to disturbing online content suggests that a strict age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could lead to a "cliff edge" of risk when teens turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a response to the failure of the tech sector to design platforms and apps that are appropriate and suitable for children," commented a prominent child protection advocate.

America: A State-by-State Picture

Stateside, legislation is mostly unfolding at the regional level amid country-wide inaction.

• Utah requires guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a measure barring children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has enacted a regulation limiting under-16s to one hour of social media time per day, with extra access dependent on adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced laws demanding guardian approval for teenagers to open social media accounts.

Even with widespread concern and calls from some individuals to follow the Australian example, a nationwide ban is right now seen as improbable.

International Views

Outside of these regions, further states are likewise taking action.

• Malaysia intends to ban social media for teenagers effective next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has increased the required age for Instagram to 16.

However, world bodies strike a more nuanced stance. A major UN agency has cautioned that social media bans pose dangers and "might backfire". The organization highlights that online platforms can be a "critical link" for marginalized young people and that bans should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to improve safety.

Even as this worldwide conversation evolves, the policies of the Australian government and its followers demonstrate that policymakers around the world are no longer willing to wait for the industry to make changes on their own.