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The Australian bold action to ban social networking access for young people below 16 is creating waves internationally. Officials, campaigners, and families are observing intently to see if this strategy will become a template for the rest of the world.

European Trend

In Europe, a increasing number of nations are considering comparable bans.

• The Danish government has announced a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the PM declaring that mobile devices and apps are "stealing our kids' childhood". The policy could be enacted in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is planning to enforce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to protect the young from the "influence of the algorithms".
• Ireland is developing a digital ID system to confirm the user details of social media participants. Authorities have suggested that an similar ban is "one of the measures in reserve".
• In Spain, the leader has urged parliament to approve a proposal increasing the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has suggested a comparable move, including an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in The Dutch government has urged families to restrict their kids from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has passed a non-binding statement demanding a ban for under-16s without parental consent is granted. Even though it highlights of the "habit-forming" nature of these apps, the move does not create binding law.

"A strong age barrier is a useful starting point," commented one European lawmaker behind the resolution.

Britain: A Cautious Stance

For the United Kingdom, the administration has remained open to a potential ban, emphasizing that "no option is off the table" but stressing any decision must be "grounded in robust research".

Previously, support gathered behind a proposal to introduce restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually weakened. However, the government pledged to conduct more studies the matter.

Campaign organizations have voiced apprehensions. One foundation founded by the family of a girl who was lost after being exposed to dangerous platform posts suggests that a strict age ban might not improve online safety and could lead to a "dangerous transition" of harm when young people reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a response to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to build products and services that are secure and fit for minors," said a prominent peer.

The United States: A Fragmented Picture

Stateside, regulation is mostly happening at the regional level amid federal gridlock.

• Utah mandates parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• The state of Florida has passed a bill barring those below 14 from accessing social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has enacted a law capping minors to a single hour of social media time per day, with any further time requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise introduced laws requiring parental consent for teenagers to open social media accounts.

Despite bipartisan support and calls from various politicians to mimic this example, a US-wide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

Global Views

Outside of these regions, further states are likewise exploring options.

• Malaysia intends to ban social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• Brazil has increased the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

But, world bodies strike a more measured tone. Unicef has cautioned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "could have unintended consequences". The agency notes that the internet can be a "critical link" for vulnerable youth and that government action should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to improve safety.

While this global conversation continues, the steps of Australia and several other countries indicate that states around the world are less and less willing to delay for tech companies to self-regulate.