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Australia's bold move to ban social networking access for those under 16 is creating waves worldwide. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and guardians are watching closely to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for other nations.

The European Trend

In Europe, a growing chorus of states are exploring comparable measures.

• The Danish government has stated a ban on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister arguing that phones and networks are "stealing our youngsters' childhood". A law may be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is preparing to introduce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard children from the "influence of the algorithms".
• Ireland is working on a digital wallet to confirm the user details of social media users. The media minister have stated that an Australia-style ban remains "one of the tools in reserve".
• In Spain, the leader has called on lawmakers to enact a proposal raising the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has suggested a related move, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The administration in The Netherlands has recommended families to prevent their children from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the EU parliament has adopted a non-binding resolution supporting a ban for minors without guardian approval is given. While it warns of the "habit-forming" nature of these platforms, the step does not create mandatory rules.

"An effective age limit is a solid foundation," said a leading parliamentarian supporting the measure.

Britain: A Cautious Stance

Across Britain, the administration has not ruled out a future ban, emphasizing that "nothing is being dismissed" but insisting any action must be "supported by conclusive evidence".

Earlier, momentum gathered behind a proposal to impose controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end watered down. However, the administration pledged to conduct more studies the topic.

Campaign organizations have expressed apprehensions. One foundation established by the relatives of a teenager who was lost after viewing dangerous platform posts suggests that a blanket age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could result in a "dangerous transition" of exposure when young people reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the failure of the Silicon Valley to build platforms and apps that are safe and suitable for minors," said a leading online safety campaigner.

America: A Decentralized Picture

In the United States, regulation is largely occurring at the local level amid federal stalemate.

• Utah requires guardian permission for minors to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a bill banning those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• Virginia has passed a law capping under-16s to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with additional time requiring adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted laws demanding guardian approval for minors to set up social media profiles.

Despite cross-party agreement and proposals from various figures to mimic this example, a US-wide ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.

Global Views

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

• Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
• Brazil has raised the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

But, world organizations strike a more nuanced tone. The UN children's agency has advised that social media bans pose dangers and "could have unintended consequences". The organization points out that social networks can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable youth and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to improve safety.

As this worldwide debate evolves, the policies of the Australian government and several other countries show that governments globally are no longer prepared to delay for tech companies to make changes on their own.