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The nation's controversial action to ban social media access for those under 16 is creating waves around the globe. Politicians, safety advocates, and families are monitoring with great interest to see if this strategy will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

The European Momentum

In Europe, a growing group of countries are considering similar restrictions.

• Denmark has announced a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister arguing that smartphones and platforms are "robbing our youngsters' innocence". The policy may be formalized in the coming year.
• Norway is preparing to enforce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to shield young people from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is working on a online verification tool to confirm the identity and age of social media account holders. The media minister have stated that an Australian-model ban could be "one of the options under consideration".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged parliament to pass a law raising the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a related action, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for adolescents.
• The administration in The Dutch government has urged families to prevent their kids from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the European parliament has approved a advisory resolution calling for a ban for under-16s except if parental consent is granted. Even though it highlights of the "compulsive" design of these services, the step does not create enforceable legislation.

"A strong age restriction is a solid first step," commented one MEP supporting the measure.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Stance

For the United Kingdom, the government has remained open to a potential ban, emphasizing that "no option is discarded" but stressing any decision must be "based on conclusive evidence".

Previously, interest grew behind a proposal to impose limits on social media use by minors, but it was in the end watered down. However, the administration pledged to investigate the issue.

Advocacy groups have expressed apprehensions. An organization founded by the family of a girl who took her own life after viewing dangerous online content argues that a simple age ban might not improve online safety and could lead to a "cliff edge" of exposure when teens reach the legal age.

"This ban is a response to the inability of the social media companies to create tools that are secure and fit for minors," said a influential online safety campaigner.

The US: A Fragmented Picture

In the United States, regulation is primarily happening at the local government level against a backdrop of federal stalemate.

• Utah mandates parental consent for minors to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• The state of Florida has passed a bill barring children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has approved a regulation capping minors to a single hour of social media use per day, with any further time dependent on adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed measures demanding parental consent for teenagers to open social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and calls from some figures to follow Australia's path, a nationwide ban is currently seen as unlikely.

International Views

Beyond the West, further nations are likewise exploring options.

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

But, international bodies take a more nuanced position. A major UN agency has cautioned that social media bans have downsides and "may even have unintended consequences". The body points out that the internet can be a "vital connection" for isolated children and that government action should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to improve safety.

As this international debate continues, the policies of this nation and others show that governments around the world are less and less willing to delay for platforms to self-regulate.