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The nation's bold move to prohibit social media access for young people below 16 is sparking debate internationally. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and parents are watching intently to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.

Across Europe Momentum

Across Europe, a increasing group of nations are moving toward comparable bans.

• Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister declaring that mobile devices and platforms are "stealing our kids' innocence". Legislation may be enacted next year.
• Norway is preparing to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, pointing to the need to shield children from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• Ireland is working on a digital wallet to confirm the identity and age of social media users. Officials have indicated that an Australian-model ban remains "an options under consideration".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has urged the legislature to enact a law increasing the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has suggested a comparable step, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for adolescents.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has advised parents to restrict their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has adopted a advisory resolution demanding a ban for minors without a parent decides otherwise is granted. While it warns of the "habit-forming" nature of these apps, the step does not establish mandatory rules.

"A strong age barrier is a solid starting point," said one MEP behind the initiative.

The United Kingdom: A Watchful Stance

For the United Kingdom, the government has not ruled out a potential ban, arguing that "no measure is off the table" but insisting any action must be "grounded in conclusive evidence".

Earlier, momentum grew behind a bill to impose controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end watered down. Nonetheless, the administration vowed to further research the matter.

Campaign organizations have voiced apprehensions. An organization founded by the relatives of a young person who took her own life after viewing dangerous platform posts argues that a blanket age ban might not improve online safety and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of harm when teens reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the inability of the social media companies to build tools that are appropriate and age appropriate for minors," said a prominent online safety campaigner.

America: A State-by-State Approach

In the United States, legislation is largely occurring at the state level against a backdrop of federal gridlock.

• Utah requires adult approval for minors to use social media and limits nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has signed a measure barring children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has enacted a law restricting under-16s to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with extra access requiring parental permission.
• The state of Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise passed bills requiring adult authorization for teenagers to set up social media presences.

Despite cross-party agreement and proposals from some politicians to copy the Australian example, a US-wide ban is currently seen as a distant prospect.

Worldwide Views

Beyond Europe and the US, additional nations are likewise exploring options.

• The Malaysian government plans to restrict social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, international bodies strike a more cautious tone. Unicef has warned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even prove counterproductive". The organization points out that online platforms can be a "lifeline" for isolated children and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to improve child safeguards.

Even as this global debate unfolds, the policies of this nation and others demonstrate that governments internationally are no longer willing to wait for the industry to act voluntarily.