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The nation's controversial policy to restrict social platforms access for those under 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Politicians, child protection groups, and families are watching intently to see if this approach will inspire imitation for countries abroad.

European Trend

Across Europe, a increasing chorus of countries are considering parallel bans.

• Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the PM arguing that phones and platforms are "taking away our children's youth". A law is expected to be enacted next year.
• The Norwegian government is set to implement a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard young people from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is introducing a online verification tool to confirm the age and identity of social media users. Officials have indicated that an similar ban is "a potential measures in reserve".
• In Spain, the president has called on the legislature to enact a bill increasing the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has recommended a comparable move, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in the Netherlands has advised families to block their kids from social media before 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has passed a advisory motion demanding a ban for minors unless parental consent is granted. While it warns of the "addictive" nature of these platforms, the resolution does not create enforceable legislation.

"An effective age restriction is a useful starting point," commented the European lawmaker supporting the measure.

Britain: A Watchful Stance

In the UK, the government has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "nothing is being dismissed" but stressing any action must be "grounded in conclusive research".

Previously, momentum built behind a legislative effort to impose controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually weakened. However, the administration pledged to investigate the issue.

Advocacy groups have expressed apprehensions. An organization founded by the loved ones of a teenager who was lost after being exposed to dangerous social media material contends that a simple age ban might not improve online safety and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of harm when users become eligible.

"Australia's ban is a response to the inability of the Silicon Valley to design products and services that are safe and suitable for children," commented a leading peer.

The United States: A Decentralized Picture

Stateside, action is largely unfolding at the state government level due to country-wide gridlock.

• Utah demands guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has signed a measure banning those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• Virginia has passed a regulation restricting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with additional access dependent on adult consent.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise passed laws demanding parental consent for under-16s to open social media presences.

Even with widespread concern and proposals from some individuals to mimic this lead, a federal ban is currently seen as improbable.

International Outlook

Beyond the West, additional nations are likewise taking action.

• Malaysia plans to ban social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• Brazil has lifted the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, world organizations take a more cautious stance. A major UN agency has cautioned that social media bans pose dangers and "may even backfire". The agency highlights that social networks can be a "vital connection" for isolated children and that government action should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to invest in user protection.

Even as this international conversation unfolds, the steps of this nation and several other countries show that governments around the world are less and less willing to wait for platforms to self-regulate.