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The nation's decisive action to ban social networking access for individuals under sixteen is creating waves worldwide. Lawmakers, child protection groups, and families are monitoring with great interest to see if this tactic will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

Across Europe Trend

Across Europe, a rising group of countries are moving toward comparable bans.

• Denmark has announced a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister arguing that phones and apps are "stealing our kids' innocence". A law could be formalized in the coming year.
• Norway is set to introduce a minimum age limit of 15, citing the need to safeguard the young from the "influence of the algorithms".
• Ireland is developing a digital ID system to confirm the age and identity of social media participants. Officials have indicated that an similar ban could be "an measures in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the president has asked parliament to approve a bill raising the access age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has endorsed a related move, including an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The administration in the Netherlands has urged guardians to prevent their kids from social media before 15.

Across the European Union, the bloc's legislature has adopted a non-binding resolution supporting a ban for minors unless guardian approval is granted. Although it highlights of the "habit-forming" design of these services, the move does not create mandatory rules.

"An effective age limit is a useful foundation," stated a leading European lawmaker supporting the resolution.

Britain: A Watchful Stance

In the UK, the government has remained open to a possible ban, emphasizing that "no measure is off the table" but stressing any decision must be "grounded in strong evidence".

Last year, interest built behind a proposal to enact limits on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately weakened. Instead, the government committed to further research the issue.

Charities have expressed concerns. An organization set up by the loved ones of a girl who was lost after encountering harmful platform posts suggests that a strict age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when users reach the legal age.

"Australia's ban is a reaction to the failure of the tech sector to design products and services that are appropriate and age appropriate for young users," commented a influential child protection advocate.

The US: A Fragmented Picture

Across America, regulation is largely happening at the state government level amid country-wide inaction.

• Utah requires parental consent for minors to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• Florida has enacted a law prohibiting those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it is entangled in constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has enacted a law capping teenagers to a single hour of social media access per day, with additional access requiring adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise introduced bills mandating parental consent for under-16s to set up social media profiles.

Despite widespread concern and suggestions from various figures to follow this path, a US-wide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Views

Outside of Europe and the US, additional countries are also exploring options.

• Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has lifted the access age for one major platform to 16.

However, international organizations take a more nuanced position. A major UN agency has warned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "could prove counterproductive". The agency highlights that online platforms can be a "vital connection" for marginalized youth and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for social media firms to improve safety.

While this worldwide discussion unfolds, the policies of this nation and its followers indicate that policymakers around the world are no longer willing to wait for platforms to make changes on their own.