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The nation's decisive move to restrict social media access for those under 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Politicians, child protection groups, and guardians are observing intently to see if this strategy will set a precedent for countries abroad.

European Trend

In Europe, a rising group of countries are considering comparable measures.

• Denmark has stated a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM declaring that mobile devices and apps are "stealing our kids' childhood". Legislation could be enacted in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to introduce a age restriction of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard children from the "power of the AI".
• Ireland is developing a digital wallet to authenticate the identity and age of social media participants. Officials have indicated that an Australian-model ban is "one of the options on the table".
• In Spain, the leader has urged lawmakers to approve a proposal raising the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has floated the idea of a ban for children below 15, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a similar move, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The administration in The Netherlands has urged guardians to restrict their youngsters from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has approved a symbolic motion calling for a ban for minors unless a parent decides otherwise is provided. Even though it highlights of the "addictive" design of these platforms, the move does not establish mandatory rules.

"A strong age barrier is a good first step," said one European lawmaker driving the resolution.

Britain: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the government has not ruled out a potential ban, stating that "no measure is off the table" but stressing any policy must be "based on strong evidence".

Last year, interest grew behind a bill to impose controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was ultimately weakened. However, the administration pledged to further research the issue.

Advocacy groups have raised concerns. An organization founded by the loved ones of a young person who died after being exposed to disturbing platform posts contends that a simple age ban might not protect children and could result in a "dangerous transition" of exposure when young people reach the legal age.

"This ban is a reaction to the failure of the social media companies to build products and services that are appropriate and fit for children," stated a prominent peer.

The US: A Decentralized Landscape

Stateside, legislation is mostly happening at the local government level against a backdrop of country-wide inaction.

• Utah demands guardian permission for minors to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a measure barring under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• The state of Virginia has passed a rule capping under-16s to one hour of social media use per day, with extra use requiring a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed laws mandating adult authorization for minors to open social media profiles.

Even with widespread concern and suggestions from some politicians to mimic this lead, a US-wide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Views

Apart from these regions, further countries are similarly exploring options.

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

However, international organizations take a more cautious tone. A major UN agency has advised that social media bans have downsides and "could backfire". The agency points out that social networks can be a "critical link" for vulnerable youth and that government action should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to invest in safety.

While this worldwide debate evolves, the actions of this nation and its followers indicate that governments globally are no longer content to wait for platforms to self-regulate.