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The nation's decisive move to prohibit social networking access for individuals under sixteen is sparking debate around the globe. Officials, campaigners, and parents are monitoring intently to see if this tactic will set a precedent for countries abroad.

European Trend

In Europe, a growing chorus of states are considering similar bans.

• Denmark has announced a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the PM stating that mobile devices and apps are "stealing our kids' childhood". A law could be enacted next year.
• Norway is planning to implement a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to protect young people from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is developing a digital ID system to confirm the user details of social media participants. Officials have indicated that an Australian-model ban remains "a potential tools in reserve".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked the legislature to approve a bill increasing the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has recommended a similar step, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The administration in The Netherlands has advised families to restrict their kids from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has adopted a symbolic resolution demanding a ban for minors except if guardian approval is granted. While it warns of the "addictive" design of these platforms, the resolution does not establish mandatory rules.

"An effective age restriction is a good first step," commented the parliamentarian behind the initiative.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Stance

In the UK, the administration has not ruled out a possible ban, stating that "no option is off the table" but maintaining any action must be "based on conclusive data".

Earlier, momentum built behind a legislative effort to enact controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately watered down. Instead, the government pledged to further research the topic.

Advocacy groups have voiced warnings. A prominent charity set up by the relatives of a girl who died after encountering harmful online content contends that a blanket age ban could fail to improve online safety and could result in a "cliff edge" of harm when users reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to create platforms and apps that are safe and fit for minors," said a prominent peer.

The US: A State-by-State Picture

In the United States, regulation is mostly occurring at the state level against a backdrop of country-wide inaction.

• The state of Utah demands adult approval for under-18s to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a measure banning children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• The state of Virginia has approved a regulation limiting under-16s to a single hour of social media time per day, with any further time dependent on a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly enacted bills requiring guardian approval for under-16s to set up social media presences.

Despite cross-party agreement and calls from some figures to follow Australia's example, a US-wide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

International Outlook

Apart from the West, further nations are also considering moves.

• Malaysia intends to ban social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• Brazil has raised the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, world agencies adopt a more nuanced tone. A major UN agency has cautioned that social media bans pose dangers and "may even have unintended consequences". The organization points out that social networks can be a "lifeline" for isolated youth and that government action should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to improve user protection.

Even as this international debate unfolds, the policies of this nation and others demonstrate that governments internationally are less and less content to stand by for platforms to act voluntarily.