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The nation's bold move to prohibit social media access for young people below 16 is creating waves around the globe. Officials, safety advocates, and guardians are observing with great interest to see if this approach will inspire imitation for other nations.

The European Trend

Across Europe, a growing number of states are exploring parallel bans.

• The Danish government has stated a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the leader declaring that smartphones and apps are "taking away our youngsters' innocence". Legislation may be passed next year.
• Norway is set to implement a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to shield children from the "manipulative force of the AI".
• The Irish government is introducing a digital ID system to verify the age and identity of social media account holders. Authorities have indicated that an Australia-style ban could be "an measures in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has asked parliament to pass a bill lifting the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has endorsed a related action, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The administration in The Netherlands has recommended parents to block their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has passed a advisory resolution supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 unless a parent decides otherwise is given. Even though it warns of the "addictive" nature of these services, the resolution does not establish mandatory rules.

"A strong age limit is a solid foundation," commented the European lawmaker behind the measure.

Britain: A Watchful Eye

For the United Kingdom, the administration has not ruled out a future ban, stating that "no measure is being dismissed" but insisting any policy must be "based on robust data".

Earlier, interest built behind a legislative effort to impose limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually weakened. However, the administration vowed to further research the issue.

Charities have raised apprehensions. A prominent charity set up by the family of a girl who died after being exposed to harmful social media material argues that a strict age ban might not make platforms safer and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when teens become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the failure of the social media companies to build tools that are safe and suitable for children," stated a leading child protection advocate.

America: A Fragmented Approach

Across America, action is mostly unfolding at the state level amid country-wide inaction.

• Utah mandates parental consent for minors to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• The state of Florida has signed a bill prohibiting those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has passed a rule restricting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with any further use requiring a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed laws requiring parental consent for minors to set up social media profiles.

Even with bipartisan support and calls from certain figures to copy this lead, a federal ban is currently seen as unlikely.

International Views

Outside of Europe and the US, other countries are also taking action.

• Malaysia plans to ban social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• Brazil has lifted the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

But, global agencies adopt a more cautious stance. Unicef has cautioned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "may even have unintended consequences". The organization points out that online platforms can be a "critical link" for isolated young people and that government action should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to improve safety.

As this global discussion unfolds, the actions of this nation and its followers show that governments around the world are less and less willing to stand by for tech companies to act voluntarily.