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The nation's decisive move to ban social media access for those under 16 is creating waves internationally. Politicians, campaigners, and families are monitoring with great interest to see if this tactic will become a template for countries abroad.

Across Europe Trend

In Europe, a growing number of states are exploring similar measures.

• Denmark has stated a restriction on social media for under-15s, with the PM declaring that smartphones and platforms are "stealing our kids' innocence". A law may be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is set to implement a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard children from the "influence of the AI".
• The Irish government is introducing a digital wallet to authenticate the user details of social media users. Officials have suggested that an similar ban remains "an options on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked parliament to pass a law raising the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has recommended a similar step, alongside an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has advised families to restrict their kids from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has passed a advisory resolution calling for a ban for minors without guardian approval is provided. Although it cautions of the "compulsive" quality of these platforms, the step does not establish mandatory rules.

"A strong age barrier is a useful foundation," said a leading parliamentarian supporting the initiative.

The UK: A Cautious Stance

For the United Kingdom, the administration has remained open to a potential ban, stating that "no measure is being dismissed" but stressing any policy must be "supported by robust data".

Last year, interest built behind a proposal to introduce controls on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately modified. Nonetheless, the government committed to conduct more studies the matter.

Advocacy groups have raised concerns. One foundation founded by the loved ones of a young person who died after encountering harmful social media material suggests that a simple age ban may not make platforms safer and could result in a "sudden drop-off" of risk when young people become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a response to the failure of the Silicon Valley to design products and services that are secure and fit for children," said a influential online safety campaigner.

America: A Fragmented Picture

Stateside, action is mostly happening at the regional level due to country-wide stalemate.

• Utah demands parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and controls overnight use.
• Florida has signed a bill prohibiting children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has enacted a rule capping teenagers to 60 minutes of social media access per day, with extra access requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed bills requiring parental consent for teenagers to open social media accounts.

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

International Outlook

Apart from Europe and the US, further nations are also considering moves.

• The Malaysian government aims to restrict social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• Brazil has increased the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, world agencies adopt a more nuanced tone. Unicef has cautioned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "might prove counterproductive". The agency notes that the internet can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable children and that bans should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to prioritize child safeguards.

Even as this international debate unfolds, the actions of this nation and others demonstrate that policymakers internationally are no longer willing to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.