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Australia's bold policy to prohibit social networking access for individuals under sixteen is sparking debate around the globe. Officials, campaigners, and parents are watching with great interest to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.

The European Trend

Across Europe, a growing chorus of nations are considering comparable restrictions.

• The Danish government has announced a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the leader declaring that mobile devices and apps are "taking away our children's childhood". Legislation is expected to be enacted in the coming year.
• Norway is preparing to implement a access barrier of 15, citing the need to safeguard children from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is introducing a digital wallet to confirm the user details of social media users. Officials have indicated that an Australia-style ban could be "one of the tools on the table".
• In Spain, the president has urged the legislature to approve a proposal raising the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has suggested a related step, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in The Netherlands has recommended families to prevent their children from social media up to the age of 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has approved a non-binding motion calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 except if guardian approval is provided. Even though it cautions of the "addictive" design of these apps, the step does not enact mandatory rules.

"A strong age restriction is a good foundation," commented a leading parliamentarian driving the resolution.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Eye

In the UK, the government has kept open a future ban, stating that "no option is off the table" but maintaining any decision must be "supported by strong evidence".

Last year, support gathered behind a proposal to enact controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end weakened. Instead, the administration pledged to investigate the topic.

Charities have voiced warnings. A prominent charity set up by the family of a girl who took her own life after viewing dangerous social media material suggests that a strict age ban may not improve online safety and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of risk when teens reach the legal age.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the refusal of the tech sector to design tools that are safe and age appropriate for children," stated a influential online safety campaigner.

The US: A Decentralized Approach

Across America, legislation is largely happening at the regional level amid country-wide stalemate.

• The state of Utah requires guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has passed a measure barring children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• Virginia has approved a rule restricting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with additional use needing adult consent.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced laws requiring adult authorization for minors to create social media profiles.

Even with widespread concern and proposals from certain politicians to follow this lead, a federal ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

International Perspectives

Outside of the West, additional states are similarly exploring options.

• Malaysia plans to prohibit social media for under-16s effective next year.
• Brazil has lifted the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, global agencies strike a more measured tone. Unicef has warned that age-based restrictions pose dangers and "could backfire". The agency highlights that online platforms can be a "critical link" for marginalized children and that government action should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to prioritize user protection.

While this international debate continues, the actions of this nation and others indicate that policymakers around the world are less and less content to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.