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The nation's bold move to prohibit social media access for those under 16 is sparking debate worldwide. Politicians, child protection groups, and parents are observing with great interest to see if this strategy will set a precedent for other nations.

Across Europe Movement

In Europe, a rising group of states are considering parallel measures.

• The Danish government has stated a ban on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister stating that phones and platforms are "taking away our kids' innocence". A law may be passed next year.
• Norway is planning to implement a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to shield children from the "manipulative force of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the user details of social media users. The media minister have suggested that an similar ban could be "a potential options under consideration".
• In Spain, the leader has urged the legislature to approve a law lifting the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a similar move, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in the Netherlands has recommended families to restrict their children from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has adopted a symbolic motion supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 except if guardian approval is provided. Although it warns of the "habit-forming" design of these services, the step does not establish mandatory rules.

"An effective age barrier is a useful starting point," said the MEP supporting the initiative.

The United Kingdom: A Cautious Eye

For the United Kingdom, the leadership has kept open a potential ban, emphasizing that "no measure is being dismissed" but maintaining any action must be "supported by robust research".

Earlier, interest built behind a proposal to enact controls on social media use by minors, but it was in the end weakened. Instead, the administration pledged to conduct more studies the topic.

Charities have raised warnings. One foundation founded by the relatives of a teenager who was lost after encountering disturbing platform posts suggests that a strict age ban might not improve online safety and could create a "cliff edge" of harm when teens turn 16.

"This ban is a reaction to the failure of the social media companies to design tools that are secure and age appropriate for children," commented a leading online safety campaigner.

The US: A Fragmented Picture

Across America, regulation is largely happening at the local level due to country-wide inaction.

• Utah demands guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• Florida has passed a measure barring those below 14 from joining social media, though it faces legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a law limiting teenagers to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with any further access dependent on adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced laws requiring parental consent for minors to create social media accounts.

Despite bipartisan support and proposals from some figures to copy this lead, a nationwide ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.

Global Views

Apart from Europe and the US, additional states are also taking action.

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

However, international organizations strike a more measured stance. A major UN agency has cautioned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "might have unintended consequences". The agency notes that social networks can be a "critical link" for vulnerable young people and that bans should not be a "excuse" for social media firms to improve safety.

While this international discussion unfolds, the policies of Australia and others indicate that policymakers around the world are increasingly willing to delay for the industry to act voluntarily.