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The nation's controversial move to ban social networking access for individuals under sixteen is sparking debate internationally. Officials, campaigners, and parents are monitoring intently to see if this strategy will become a template for the rest of the world.

European Movement

Across Europe, a growing chorus of countries are exploring comparable measures.

• The Danish government has stated a ban on social media for under-15s, with the leader stating that phones and platforms are "stealing our children's youth". The policy may be formalized in the coming year.
• Norway is planning to implement a access barrier of 15, citing the need to safeguard young people from the "power of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to confirm the identity and age of social media users. Officials have indicated that an Australian-model ban could be "one of the measures on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged the legislature to enact a proposal raising the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a comparable move, including an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has urged parents to block their kids from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has adopted a advisory statement calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 except if a parent decides otherwise is given. Even though it highlights of the "habit-forming" quality of these services, the step does not establish mandatory rules.

"An effective age barrier is a solid foundation," stated one parliamentarian behind the initiative.

The UK: A Watchful Approach

Across Britain, the leadership has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "no option is being dismissed" but maintaining any decision must be "supported by conclusive evidence".

Last year, momentum built behind a proposal to enact controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end modified. Nonetheless, the government vowed to conduct more studies the matter.

Advocacy groups have raised warnings. One foundation set up by the family of a young person who took her own life after viewing dangerous social media material suggests that a strict age ban may not make platforms safer and could lead to a "cliff edge" of exposure when teens turn 16.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the refusal of the social media companies to create products and services that are secure and fit for minors," stated a influential peer.

The United States: A State-by-State Landscape

Stateside, regulation is primarily occurring at the state level due to federal gridlock.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a law banning under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it faces court battles.
• Virginia has approved a rule limiting minors to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with any further time dependent on adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly introduced measures requiring adult authorization for under-16s to set up social media accounts.

Despite bipartisan support and proposals from some individuals to copy Australia's lead, a federal ban is presently seen as unlikely.

International Views

Apart from Europe and the US, further states are similarly exploring options.

• The Malaysian government aims to restrict social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

Yet, world agencies adopt a more nuanced tone. A major UN agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "could have unintended consequences". The agency points out that the internet can be a "critical link" for vulnerable youth and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to invest in safety.

As this global discussion continues, the steps of Australia and several other countries demonstrate that policymakers globally are less and less prepared to delay for the industry to make changes on their own.