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Australia's controversial action to prohibit social networking access for individuals under sixteen is sparking debate worldwide. Officials, safety advocates, and guardians are observing with great interest to see if this tactic will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

The European Movement

Throughout Europe, a rising chorus of nations are considering comparable restrictions.

• Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister declaring that smartphones and platforms are "taking away our children's innocence". The policy may be enacted in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to implement a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to shield the young from the "influence of the AI".
• The Irish government is developing a digital wallet to verify the user details of social media users. The media minister have suggested that an similar ban is "an options under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has called on parliament to enact a bill increasing the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a government panel has suggested a similar move, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has urged families to prevent their children from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has passed a non-binding resolution demanding a ban for minors without a parent decides otherwise is granted. While it highlights of the "addictive" design of these services, the move does not establish mandatory rules.

"A strong age restriction is a good foundation," said the parliamentarian behind the resolution.

The UK: A Cautious Approach

In the UK, the government has remained open to a potential ban, stating that "nothing is discarded" but insisting any decision must be "grounded in conclusive research".

Earlier, momentum built behind a legislative effort to introduce controls on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately weakened. Instead, the government pledged to conduct more studies the matter.

Advocacy groups have voiced apprehensions. One foundation set up by the family of a teenager who died after being exposed to dangerous online content suggests that a strict age ban may not make platforms safer and could lead to a "cliff edge" of harm when young people turn 16.

"This ban is a answer to the refusal of the social media companies to build products and services that are safe and suitable for minors," said a leading online safety campaigner.

America: A State-by-State Landscape

Stateside, regulation is primarily happening at the state level against a backdrop of federal stalemate.

• The state of Utah demands guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and restricts late-night use.
• Florida has enacted a measure prohibiting children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has approved a law restricting under-16s to one hour of social media time per day, with additional access dependent on parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise introduced bills requiring parental consent for teenagers to set up social media presences.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from some individuals to follow this path, a US-wide ban is currently seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Perspectives

Outside of Europe and the US, further countries are similarly taking action.

• The Malaysian government plans to restrict social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• Brazil has lifted the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

Yet, international agencies strike a more nuanced stance. The UN children's agency has cautioned that social media bans pose dangers and "may even have unintended consequences". The organization notes that the internet can be a "lifeline" for marginalized children and that government action should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to prioritize child safeguards.

Even as this global discussion continues, the policies of this nation and others indicate that states internationally are less and less prepared to delay for tech companies to self-regulate.