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The nation's decisive action to ban social networking access for those under 16 is sparking debate internationally. Lawmakers, campaigners, and families are watching with great interest to see if this tactic will inspire imitation for other nations.

European Movement

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

• The Danish government has stated a ban on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister declaring that smartphones and apps are "taking away our kids' innocence". A law could be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is set to implement a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to protect the young from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is introducing a online verification tool to confirm the identity and age of social media participants. Officials have suggested that an Australia-style ban could be "one of the options in reserve".
• In Spain, the leader has urged parliament to approve a law increasing the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has suggested a comparable step, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The administration in The Dutch government has urged parents to block their children from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has passed a non-binding motion calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 unless parental consent is given. While it cautions of the "addictive" nature of these services, the step does not enact enforceable legislation.

"An effective age barrier is a good starting point," commented one parliamentarian supporting the resolution.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Stance

In the UK, the administration has remained open to a possible ban, arguing that "no option is discarded" but insisting any decision must be "grounded in strong evidence".

Earlier, interest gathered behind a legislative effort to introduce limits on social media use by minors, but it was eventually weakened. Instead, the government vowed to investigate the issue.

Campaign organizations have raised apprehensions. A prominent charity founded by the loved ones of a girl who took her own life after viewing dangerous platform posts suggests that a blanket age ban could fail to improve online safety and could result in a "cliff edge" of risk when young people turn 16.

"This ban is a reaction to the inability of the social media companies to design tools that are safe and age appropriate for young users," stated a leading child protection advocate.

The United States: A Decentralized Approach

Across America, action is largely unfolding at the local level amid national inaction.

• Utah demands guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and controls overnight use.
• Florida has signed a law prohibiting under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has passed a law capping under-16s to a single hour of social media access per day, with any further use needing a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly enacted bills demanding guardian approval for teenagers to create social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and calls from some individuals to mimic Australia's example, a US-wide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

International Perspectives

Beyond these regions, other countries are similarly considering moves.

• Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• Brazil has increased the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, global organizations adopt a more cautious position. The UN children's agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "could backfire". The agency highlights that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable youth and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to prioritize user protection.

While this worldwide conversation evolves, the steps of the Australian government and its followers show that governments globally are less and less prepared to stand by for the industry to self-regulate.