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The Australian decisive action to restrict social networking access for young people below 16 is sparking debate worldwide. Officials, safety advocates, and families are watching closely to see if this approach will become a template for other nations.

Across Europe Movement

In Europe, a increasing group of states are moving toward comparable measures.

• The Danish government has announced a ban on social media for under-15s, with the PM arguing that mobile devices and networks are "stealing our kids' innocence". Legislation could be formalized soon.
• Norway is preparing to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to protect young people from the "power of the AI".
• The Irish government is working on a digital ID system to confirm the age and identity of social media participants. Officials have indicated that an similar ban could be "one of the measures on the table".
• In Spain, the president has asked the legislature to pass a law raising the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has recommended a comparable step, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in The Netherlands has urged families to block their kids from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has approved a non-binding motion supporting a ban for under-16s unless guardian approval is provided. Even though it warns of the "addictive" quality of these platforms, the move does not enact mandatory rules.

"A strong age restriction is a solid foundation," said the MEP behind the measure.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the administration has not ruled out a future ban, stating that "no measure is being dismissed" but maintaining any action must be "supported by conclusive research".

Earlier, support built behind a legislative effort to enact controls on social media use by minors, but it was in the end modified. Nonetheless, the administration pledged to further research the issue.

Campaign organizations have raised apprehensions. A prominent charity set up by the loved ones of a young person who died after encountering dangerous online content suggests that a simple age ban could fail to improve online safety and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of harm when young people become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the failure of the Silicon Valley to design platforms and apps that are safe and fit for children," commented a prominent peer.

The US: A Decentralized Landscape

Across America, action is mostly occurring at the local level amid country-wide inaction.

• Utah mandates adult approval for under-18s to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a measure prohibiting under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• Virginia has enacted a law capping under-16s to a single hour of social media access per day, with additional access needing adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise introduced bills requiring adult authorization for under-16s to create social media presences.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from some individuals to follow this path, a nationwide ban is right now seen as improbable.

Worldwide Outlook

Apart from these regions, additional countries are also exploring options.

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

Yet, global organizations strike a more cautious stance. The UN children's agency has warned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "might have unintended consequences". The body notes that social networks can be a "critical link" for isolated young people and that government action should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to invest in user protection.

Even as this global conversation unfolds, the actions of this nation and several other countries demonstrate that states globally are no longer prepared to wait for tech companies to act voluntarily.