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The nation's bold move to restrict social networking access for young people below 16 is creating waves around the globe. Officials, safety advocates, and families are watching intently to see if this strategy will set a precedent for other nations.

Across Europe Trend

In Europe, a growing number of states are considering comparable restrictions.

• Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the leader arguing that phones and platforms are "stealing our children's innocence". Legislation is expected to be passed in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is set to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to shield children from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• The Irish government is developing a digital wallet to verify the user details of social media participants. The media minister have indicated that an similar ban remains "an options under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has called on parliament to approve a bill lifting the minimum age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has suggested a related move, alongside an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in The Dutch government has recommended families to prevent their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has adopted a non-binding resolution supporting a ban for teenagers under 16 unless parental consent is provided. Even though it warns of the "addictive" quality of these platforms, the resolution does not establish binding law.

"A clear age limit is a useful starting point," commented one parliamentarian behind the resolution.

Britain: A Watchful Eye

For the United Kingdom, the administration has kept open a future ban, arguing that "no option is being dismissed" but insisting any action must be "supported by robust research".

Last year, support gathered behind a legislative effort to introduce restrictions on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately modified. However, the administration vowed to further research the issue.

Advocacy groups have raised warnings. One foundation set up by the relatives of a teenager who died after being exposed to harmful social media material argues that a simple age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when young people reach the legal age.

"This ban is a response to the failure of the social media companies to design tools that are safe and suitable for young users," stated a prominent online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Fragmented Landscape

Across America, regulation is primarily occurring at the state government level due to country-wide inaction.

• The state of Utah requires adult approval for minors to use social media and limits late-night use.
• Florida has passed a measure banning those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• Virginia has passed a law limiting minors to 60 minutes of social media time per day, with any further use requiring parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also passed laws requiring parental consent for teenagers to set up social media presences.

Even with cross-party agreement and calls from various figures to mimic the Australian path, a US-wide ban is currently seen as improbable.

Global Views

Beyond Europe and the US, further states are also considering moves.

• The Malaysian government plans to ban social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
• Brazil has lifted the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, global agencies strike a more measured position. Unicef has warned that social media bans pose dangers and "may even have unintended consequences". The organization notes that online platforms can be a "critical link" for isolated young people and that government action should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to invest in child safeguards.

Even as this international debate unfolds, the actions of this nation and several other countries show that policymakers around the world are no longer prepared to wait for platforms to self-regulate.