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The nation's decisive policy to prohibit social networking access for young people below 16 is creating waves worldwide. Officials, child protection groups, and parents are watching intently to see if this strategy will set a precedent for countries abroad.

The European Trend

In Europe, a growing group of countries are considering parallel restrictions.

• Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader arguing that mobile devices and apps are "taking away our children's innocence". Legislation could be enacted in the coming year.
• Norway is set to enforce a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to shield the young from the "influence of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is introducing a digital ID system to verify the identity and age of social media account holders. Authorities have indicated that an similar ban remains "a potential measures on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has asked lawmakers to pass a bill increasing the access age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a comparable move, including an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in The Netherlands has advised parents to restrict their kids from social media until 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has passed a symbolic motion supporting a ban for minors except if guardian approval is given. While it highlights of the "compulsive" design of these apps, the move does not enact enforceable legislation.

"A clear age barrier is a useful starting point," stated the European lawmaker driving the initiative.

Britain: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the government has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "no measure is off the table" but stressing any policy must be "supported by strong data".

Earlier, support grew behind a bill to impose controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end watered down. Instead, the government pledged to further research the matter.

Charities have raised warnings. An organization established by the family of a girl who was lost after viewing dangerous platform posts contends that a blanket age ban could fail to improve online safety and could create a "dangerous transition" of risk when young people reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a response to the inability of the tech sector to build products and services that are safe and suitable for minors," stated a leading child protection advocate.

The United States: A Fragmented Landscape

Across America, action is mostly happening at the state level against a backdrop of national stalemate.

• Utah demands guardian permission for minors to use social media and controls nighttime use.
• Florida has signed a measure barring under-14s from joining social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting under-16s to one hour of social media time per day, with extra time dependent on parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted laws requiring adult authorization for under-16s to open social media profiles.

Even with bipartisan support and calls from various politicians to follow Australia's path, a US-wide ban is currently seen as unlikely.

International Perspectives

Apart from Europe and the US, additional states are also taking action.

• Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the required age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, global organizations take a more nuanced position. Unicef has warned that social media bans have downsides and "may even backfire". The body points out that social networks can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable young people and that bans should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to improve user protection.

Even as this worldwide debate unfolds, the policies of the Australian government and several other countries indicate that policymakers globally are increasingly willing to stand by for the industry to act voluntarily.