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The nation's bold move to restrict social media access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves worldwide. Officials, safety advocates, and parents are observing with great interest to see if this strategy will become a template for countries abroad.

Across Europe Movement

In Europe, a growing group of nations are moving toward comparable restrictions.

• Denmark plans a prohibition on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM arguing that mobile devices and apps are "stealing our youngsters' innocence". The policy is expected to be enacted in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to enforce a age restriction of 15, citing the need to shield children from the "power of the algorithms".
• Ireland is developing a online verification tool to verify the user details of social media users. The media minister have indicated that an similar ban is "one of the measures on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has urged the legislature to pass a law lifting the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has suggested a comparable step, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has advised guardians to prevent their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has approved a symbolic resolution calling for a ban for teenagers under 16 except if a parent decides otherwise is given. While it highlights of the "addictive" design of these apps, the step does not enact enforceable legislation.

"An effective age restriction is a good first step," commented the European lawmaker behind the measure.

The UK: A Watchful Eye

In the UK, the government has remained open to a potential ban, emphasizing that "no measure is discarded" but maintaining any policy must be "based on strong research".

Earlier, interest grew behind a bill to introduce limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end weakened. Instead, the administration committed to further research the topic.

Charities have voiced concerns. An organization founded by the family of a girl who died after encountering dangerous social media material suggests that a strict age ban might not make platforms safer and could create a "sudden drop-off" of harm when teens reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a answer to the failure of the social media companies to design tools that are secure and suitable for young users," said a leading child protection advocate.

The United States: A Fragmented Landscape

Stateside, legislation is mostly happening at the local government level against a backdrop of national gridlock.

• Utah demands parental consent for those under 18 to use social media and controls late-night use.
• Florida has passed a measure barring children under fourteen from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• The state of Virginia has approved a rule restricting teenagers to one hour of social media access per day, with any further time dependent on a guardian's okay.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted measures requiring guardian approval for teenagers to create social media profiles.

Even with bipartisan support and suggestions from various figures to follow this example, a federal ban is right now seen as unlikely.

Global Views

Beyond these regions, additional countries are similarly exploring options.

• Malaysia plans to prohibit social media for under-16s beginning next year.
• Brazil has lifted the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, international organizations adopt a more measured tone. A major UN agency has warned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "might have unintended consequences". The organization notes that social networks can be a "lifeline" for vulnerable young people and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to prioritize safety.

While this global debate evolves, the actions of this nation and others show that states internationally are less and less willing to stand by for the industry to make changes on their own.