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

European Movement

In Europe, a increasing number of countries are considering similar restrictions.

• The Danish government has announced a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister declaring that phones and networks are "stealing our children's childhood". The policy may be enacted in the coming year.
• Norway is set to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to protect children from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the identity and age of social media participants. Authorities have suggested that an similar ban remains "an tools in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the president has called on parliament to pass a proposal lifting the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has suggested a comparable step, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The government in The Netherlands has recommended families to restrict their children from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has adopted a non-binding motion demanding a ban for minors except if a parent decides otherwise is provided. Although it cautions of the "addictive" design of these apps, the resolution does not establish enforceable legislation.

"A clear age barrier is a good starting point," said the parliamentarian behind the initiative.

The United Kingdom: An Evidence-Based Stance

Across Britain, the government has kept open a possible ban, emphasizing that "no measure is discarded" but insisting any policy must be "grounded in strong data".

Last year, support gathered behind a legislative effort to enact controls on social media use by minors, but it was eventually modified. Nonetheless, the government vowed to conduct more studies the topic.

Advocacy groups have expressed warnings. One foundation founded by the family of a teenager who was lost after being exposed to dangerous platform posts suggests that a strict age ban could fail to improve online safety and could create a "cliff edge" of exposure when teens become eligible.

"This ban is a reaction to the failure of the tech sector to design platforms and apps that are safe and fit for young users," said a prominent online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Fragmented Picture

Stateside, action is largely unfolding at the state government level against a backdrop of country-wide gridlock.

• Utah demands adult approval for under-18s to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• Florida has enacted a bill barring children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has enacted a regulation capping under-16s to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with any further use needing adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted bills requiring parental consent for teenagers to set up social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and suggestions from some figures to copy the Australian path, a nationwide ban is presently seen as a distant prospect.

International Perspectives

Beyond the West, additional nations are likewise taking action.

• Malaysia plans to restrict social media for those under sixteen effective next year.
• Brazil has raised the access age for Instagram to 16.

However, global agencies adopt a more nuanced tone. Unicef has advised that social media bans carry risks and "could prove counterproductive". The agency points out that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for vulnerable children and that government action should not be a "substitute" for tech companies to improve child safeguards.

While this global discussion unfolds, the policies of this nation and its followers indicate that states globally are less and less content to wait for platforms to self-regulate.