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The nation's controversial policy to prohibit social media access for young people below 16 is sparking debate around the globe. Officials, child protection groups, and families are observing closely to see if this tactic will become a template for countries abroad.

European Movement

In Europe, a increasing number of states are moving toward similar bans.

• Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM declaring that mobile devices and networks are "robbing our youngsters' youth". Legislation may be formalized next year.
• The Norwegian government is set to enforce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to shield the young from the "power of the AI".
• Ireland is working on a online verification tool to confirm the age and identity of social media participants. Officials have stated that an similar ban could be "an measures on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has urged the legislature to approve a proposal lifting the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the leader has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a government panel has recommended a similar action, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in the Netherlands has advised guardians to block their children from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the bloc's legislature has passed a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 except if parental consent is given. Although it warns of the "compulsive" nature of these apps, the step does not enact mandatory rules.

"A clear age barrier is a useful starting point," stated the MEP driving the measure.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Stance

For the United Kingdom, the government has not ruled out a potential ban, emphasizing that "nothing is discarded" but stressing any action must be "based on strong evidence".

Last year, momentum built behind a legislative effort to enact restrictions on social media use by teenagers, but it was eventually weakened. Instead, the government pledged to investigate the topic.

Advocacy groups have raised warnings. A prominent charity founded by the family of a young person who was lost after viewing dangerous social media material argues that a blanket age ban could fail to improve online safety and could lead to a "cliff edge" of exposure when teens reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the inability of the social media companies to create platforms and apps that are secure and age appropriate for minors," commented a prominent online safety campaigner.

The United States: A State-by-State Landscape

Across America, regulation is largely unfolding at the regional level against a backdrop of country-wide stalemate.

• The state of Utah demands parental consent for minors to use social media and limits overnight use.
• The state of Florida has enacted a law banning those below 14 from joining social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has approved a law capping teenagers to a single hour of social media use per day, with any further access needing adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly passed laws demanding adult authorization for minors to create social media accounts.

Even with cross-party agreement and calls from certain individuals to follow Australia's example, a federal ban is right now seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Outlook

Outside of these regions, additional nations are similarly taking action.

• Malaysia aims to prohibit social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has lifted the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, international agencies adopt a more cautious stance. A major UN agency has warned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "might backfire". The organization highlights that social networks can be a "critical link" for isolated youth and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to invest in child safeguards.

Even as this worldwide debate continues, the actions of this nation and its followers demonstrate that policymakers internationally are no longer prepared to wait for the industry to make changes on their own.