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The nation's decisive policy to restrict social networking access for young people below 16 is creating waves around the globe. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and families are monitoring with great interest to see if this strategy will set a precedent for other nations.

European Trend

Throughout Europe, a growing number of countries are considering parallel measures.

• The Danish government has announced a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister declaring that smartphones and networks are "robbing our youngsters' innocence". The policy may be enacted in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is planning to introduce a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to protect the young from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is introducing a digital wallet to confirm the age and identity of social media participants. The media minister have indicated that an Australian-model ban is "an options under consideration".
• In Spain, the leader has urged parliament to approve a law increasing the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a comparable move, including an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in the Netherlands has recommended guardians to restrict their children from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has approved a advisory motion supporting a ban for minors unless guardian approval is granted. Even though it warns of the "compulsive" nature of these platforms, the resolution does not create enforceable legislation.

"A strong age restriction is a solid starting point," commented a leading parliamentarian driving the measure.

The UK: A Watchful Approach

Across Britain, the leadership has not ruled out a possible ban, emphasizing that "no option is discarded" but insisting any action must be "supported by strong evidence".

Last year, support gathered behind a bill to enact restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was eventually weakened. Instead, the government vowed to further research the matter.

Advocacy groups have voiced warnings. A prominent charity founded by the loved ones of a teenager who took her own life after viewing disturbing platform posts argues that a blanket age ban could fail to protect children and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of risk when users become eligible.

"This ban is a reaction to the failure of the Silicon Valley to create platforms and apps that are appropriate and suitable for young users," commented a leading online safety campaigner.

America: A Fragmented Landscape

Stateside, regulation is largely unfolding at the state level against a backdrop of country-wide stalemate.

• The state of Utah demands parental consent for under-18s to use social media and limits overnight use.
• Florida has passed a measure barring those below 14 from accessing social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a regulation limiting teenagers to a single hour of social media use per day, with extra access needing a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise enacted bills demanding adult authorization for minors to create social media accounts.

Despite cross-party agreement and proposals from certain individuals to follow this path, a federal ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

International Views

Apart from Europe and the US, further states are likewise taking action.

• Malaysia intends to ban social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
• Brazil has lifted the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, international agencies take a more nuanced stance. A major UN agency has cautioned that social media bans carry risks and "may even backfire". The organization highlights that online platforms can be a "critical link" for vulnerable children and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to prioritize user protection.

As this global conversation evolves, the actions of Australia and several other countries show that states internationally are no longer willing to stand by for tech companies to make changes on their own.