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The nation's decisive policy to ban social media access for those under 16 is creating waves internationally. Officials, campaigners, and families are monitoring with great interest to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for other nations.

European Trend

In Europe, a increasing number of countries are moving toward comparable restrictions.

• Denmark has stated a ban on social media for under-15s, with the PM arguing that phones and apps are "robbing our children's childhood". A law may be enacted soon.
• Norway is preparing to implement a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to shield the young from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• Ireland is working on a online verification tool to verify the identity and age of social media account holders. Authorities have suggested that an Australian-model ban remains "an options under consideration".
• In Spain, the president has called on lawmakers to pass a law raising the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has recommended a comparable action, including an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The government in The Netherlands has advised guardians to restrict their kids from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has adopted a symbolic statement calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 unless guardian approval is given. While it cautions of the "compulsive" quality of these services, the resolution does not enact binding law.

"An effective age barrier is a good starting point," said the European lawmaker driving the initiative.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Stance

In the UK, the leadership has remained open to a potential ban, stating that "no measure is off the table" but stressing any action must be "supported by robust data".

Earlier, interest gathered behind a proposal to introduce controls on social media use by under-16s, but it was ultimately modified. Instead, the government pledged to investigate the matter.

Charities have voiced apprehensions. A prominent charity established by the family of a young person who was lost after being exposed to dangerous social media material suggests that a blanket age ban could fail to improve online safety and could lead to a "cliff edge" of harm when young people turn 16.

"This ban is a response to the failure of the tech sector to design products and services that are secure and fit for children," commented a leading online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Fragmented Approach

Across America, regulation is mostly occurring at the regional level amid country-wide inaction.

• Utah mandates adult approval for those under 18 to use social media and restricts late-night use.
• Florida has signed a bill banning children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has approved a rule restricting teenagers to a single hour of social media use per day, with extra use requiring a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also introduced measures requiring parental consent for teenagers to open social media presences.

Despite widespread concern and calls from some figures to copy the Australian example, a nationwide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

International Outlook

Outside of Europe and the US, other nations are likewise exploring options.

• Malaysia plans to prohibit social media for under-16s starting from next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has lifted the minimum age for one major platform to 16.

Yet, world agencies adopt a more nuanced position. A major UN agency has cautioned that social media bans have downsides and "may even have unintended consequences". The organization points out that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for marginalized youth and that government action should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to improve safety.

While this global debate unfolds, the policies of this nation and others demonstrate that states globally are increasingly willing to stand by for platforms to self-regulate.