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The nation's bold policy to ban social media access for those under 16 is creating waves around the globe. Officials, child protection groups, and parents are observing with great interest to see if this approach will set a precedent for other nations.

European Movement

Throughout Europe, a rising group of countries are moving toward parallel bans.

• Denmark has announced a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader arguing that mobile devices and platforms are "stealing our youngsters' childhood". The policy could be enacted soon.
• Norway is planning to introduce a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to protect young people from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is developing a online verification tool to verify the user details of social media account holders. Officials have suggested that an Australia-style ban is "one of the measures in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has asked the legislature to approve a bill raising the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a similar move, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The government in The Netherlands has recommended parents to prevent their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has approved a non-binding statement demanding a ban for under-16s without a parent decides otherwise is provided. Although it highlights of the "habit-forming" quality of these platforms, the step does not enact enforceable legislation.

"A strong age limit is a useful first step," commented the parliamentarian driving the resolution.

Britain: A Watchful Approach

For the United Kingdom, the government has kept open a future ban, arguing that "no option is discarded" but maintaining any action must be "supported by conclusive data".

Earlier, momentum built behind a legislative effort to impose limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end modified. Instead, the government pledged to conduct more studies the issue.

Advocacy groups have expressed concerns. One foundation set up by the loved ones of a young person who was lost after encountering disturbing social media material argues that a blanket age ban might not improve online safety and could result in a "cliff edge" of risk when users become eligible.

"This ban is a answer to the refusal of the social media companies to build platforms and apps that are appropriate and fit for children," said a prominent online safety campaigner.

The United States: A State-by-State Landscape

Across America, regulation is largely happening at the state level amid federal stalemate.

• Utah demands adult approval for under-18s to use social media and restricts late-night use.
• Florida has enacted a bill barring under-14s from accessing social media, though it faces court battles.
• Virginia has enacted a law limiting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with additional access requiring a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have similarly passed measures demanding adult authorization for minors to set up social media accounts.

Even with cross-party agreement and suggestions from some individuals to mimic the Australian lead, a US-wide ban is currently seen as improbable.

International Perspectives

Apart from these regions, other states are similarly exploring options.

• Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• Brazil has lifted the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, global organizations strike a more measured tone. The UN children's agency has warned that social media bans carry risks and "might prove counterproductive". The agency notes that the internet can be a "critical link" for marginalized children and that bans should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to invest in user protection.

Even as this international debate unfolds, the actions of this nation and several other countries indicate that states globally are no longer willing to delay for tech companies to make changes on their own.