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The nation's controversial action to restrict social networking access for young people below 16 is sending ripples internationally. Politicians, safety advocates, and parents are watching closely to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.

The European Movement

In Europe, a rising chorus of nations are exploring similar restrictions.

• Denmark plans a ban on social media for under-15s, with the PM arguing that mobile devices and apps are "taking away our children's youth". Legislation may be enacted next year.
• Norway is set to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to protect the young from the "power of the AI".
• The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to confirm the user details of social media participants. Officials have suggested that an Australia-style ban remains "one of the tools under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the president has urged parliament to approve a bill raising the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a related step, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The administration in The Dutch government has urged guardians to restrict their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has adopted a advisory statement calling for a ban for minors without a parent decides otherwise is provided. Although it cautions of the "compulsive" quality of these services, the step does not enact mandatory rules.

"A strong age barrier is a useful foundation," said a leading European lawmaker behind the measure.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Approach

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has kept open a future ban, emphasizing that "no option is being dismissed" but stressing any policy must be "supported by robust research".

Earlier, momentum built behind a proposal to introduce controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately modified. Instead, the government vowed to further research the topic.

Advocacy groups have raised apprehensions. An organization set up by the loved ones of a young person who took her own life after encountering harmful social media material contends that a strict age ban could fail to improve online safety and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when users turn 16.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the failure of the tech sector to create platforms and apps that are appropriate and age appropriate for minors," stated a leading peer.

America: A Decentralized Picture

Stateside, action is primarily unfolding at the regional level due to federal gridlock.

• Utah mandates adult approval for under-18s to use social media and limits overnight use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a law barring children under fourteen from joining social media, though it is entangled in court battles.
• Virginia has approved a regulation restricting minors to a single hour of social media time per day, with any further use needing adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed measures demanding adult authorization for teenagers to open social media accounts.

Despite widespread concern and suggestions from certain figures to copy Australia's lead, a federal ban is presently seen as improbable.

Worldwide Perspectives

Outside of Europe and the US, other states are likewise considering moves.

• Malaysia plans to prohibit social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• Brazil has increased the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, international organizations take a more cautious stance. Unicef has warned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "could have unintended consequences". The body notes that the internet can be a "vital connection" for marginalized young people and that bans should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to invest in user protection.

While this worldwide discussion unfolds, the steps of Australia and others show that policymakers globally are no longer prepared to delay for tech companies to make changes on their own.