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The nation's controversial move to prohibit social media access for individuals under sixteen is sparking debate worldwide. Officials, safety advocates, and guardians are watching with great interest to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

European Trend

Throughout Europe, a rising chorus of states are considering similar bans.

• Denmark has announced a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister declaring that mobile devices and apps are "robbing our youngsters' childhood". A law is expected to be passed in the coming year.
• Norway is preparing to introduce a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard the young from the "manipulative force of the algorithms".
• The Irish government is introducing a digital wallet to verify the user details of social media participants. Officials have indicated that an Australian-model ban could be "one of the options on the table".
• In Spain, the president has urged the legislature to pass a proposal lifting the minimum age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the president has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a legislative committee has endorsed a related step, including an overnight "digital curfew" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has recommended parents to block their children from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the EU parliament has adopted a non-binding resolution calling for a ban for minors except if parental consent is given. Even though it highlights of the "addictive" nature of these services, the step does not establish mandatory rules.

"An effective age restriction is a solid first step," stated the European lawmaker supporting the resolution.

The United Kingdom: A Watchful Approach

For the United Kingdom, the government has kept open a potential ban, arguing that "no option is off the table" but maintaining any action must be "grounded in robust evidence".

Earlier, support built behind a proposal to impose controls on social media use by minors, but it was eventually modified. Nonetheless, the administration committed to investigate the matter.

Campaign organizations have expressed apprehensions. One foundation established by the family of a girl who died after encountering harmful online content contends that a blanket age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could create a "dangerous transition" of risk when users become eligible.

"This ban is a response to the refusal of the tech sector to create platforms and apps that are safe and suitable for minors," stated a leading peer.

The United States: A State-by-State Approach

In the United States, action is mostly happening at the local level against a backdrop of federal stalemate.

• Utah demands guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and limits overnight use.
• Florida has signed a law barring children under fourteen from joining social media, though it is subject to constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has enacted a regulation capping teenagers to one hour of social media time per day, with additional use dependent on a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted laws demanding guardian approval for under-16s to create social media accounts.

Even with cross-party agreement and calls from certain individuals to follow Australia's lead, a US-wide ban is right now seen as improbable.

Global Outlook

Apart from the West, further countries are also taking action.

• Malaysia aims to ban social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, world bodies take a more cautious stance. A major UN agency has advised that social media bans carry risks and "could prove counterproductive". The organization notes that social networks can be a "lifeline" for marginalized youth and that bans should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to prioritize safety.

Even as this global conversation unfolds, the policies of this nation and others show that governments globally are increasingly willing to stand by for tech companies to act voluntarily.