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The nation's decisive policy to ban social platforms access for those under 16 is sending ripples internationally. Politicians, campaigners, and families are watching with great interest to see if this approach will set a precedent for countries abroad.

European Momentum

In Europe, a rising number of nations are exploring similar bans.

• The Danish government has stated a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the leader declaring that mobile devices and apps are "robbing our kids' youth". Legislation could be formalized soon.
• Norway is planning to implement a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to protect children from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is working on a digital wallet to verify the identity and age of social media participants. The media minister have stated that an Australia-style ban could be "one of the tools under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has asked parliament to pass a bill lifting the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has endorsed a comparable move, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The government in The Dutch government has urged parents to prevent their kids from social media until 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has approved a advisory motion demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 unless guardian approval is provided. Although it cautions of the "habit-forming" design of these services, the step does not create enforceable legislation.

"A clear age barrier is a good first step," commented a leading European lawmaker supporting the resolution.

Britain: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the government has kept open a potential ban, arguing that "nothing is off the table" but insisting any policy must be "based on robust evidence".

Last year, interest gathered behind a proposal to introduce restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was eventually weakened. Nonetheless, the administration vowed to conduct more studies the issue.

Advocacy groups have voiced warnings. An organization established by the family of a young person who took her own life after viewing harmful platform posts suggests that a strict age ban could fail to improve online safety and could create a "sudden drop-off" of harm when young people become eligible.

"This ban is a answer to the failure of the tech sector to build products and services that are appropriate and age appropriate for young users," commented a leading child protection advocate.

The United States: A State-by-State Landscape

Stateside, regulation is mostly happening at the state government level against a backdrop of federal gridlock.

• The state of Utah requires adult approval for minors to use social media and controls overnight use.
• The state of Florida has signed a bill banning children under fourteen from joining social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• Virginia has enacted a regulation restricting teenagers to one hour of social media time per day, with extra access requiring parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted measures mandating adult authorization for under-16s to open social media presences.

Even with cross-party agreement and calls from some figures to copy this path, a nationwide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Outlook

Apart from these regions, other countries are also considering moves.

• The Malaysian government aims to ban social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• Brazil has lifted the required age for Instagram to 16.

However, global organizations take a more nuanced tone. Unicef has cautioned that social media bans carry risks and "may even prove counterproductive". The agency notes that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable young people and that government action should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to invest in safety.

As this worldwide conversation evolves, the policies of this nation and its followers show that policymakers globally are no longer content to wait for tech companies to act voluntarily.