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The nation's decisive policy to ban social networking access for young people below 16 is sparking debate worldwide. Lawmakers, safety advocates, and guardians are monitoring with great interest to see if this approach will set a precedent for countries abroad.

European Momentum

Across Europe, a growing group of states are moving toward parallel measures.

• The Danish government has stated a ban on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM stating that mobile devices and platforms are "robbing our children's childhood". The policy could be passed soon.
• The Norwegian government is preparing to implement a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to shield young people from the "influence of the algorithms".
• Ireland is developing a online verification tool to verify the identity and age of social media participants. The media minister have indicated that an Australia-style ban could be "a potential options in reserve".
• In The Spanish government, the leader has asked the legislature to approve a bill raising the legal age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has threatened a ban for those under fifteen, and a government panel has recommended a related step, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The government in The Dutch government has urged parents to restrict their children from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has adopted a non-binding motion supporting a ban for under-16s without guardian approval is granted. While it cautions of the "compulsive" design of these platforms, the step does not establish binding law.

"A clear age restriction is a useful foundation," commented a leading MEP behind the measure.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Approach

Across Britain, the government has not ruled out a possible ban, arguing that "nothing is discarded" but stressing any policy must be "supported by strong evidence".

Last year, support gathered behind a proposal to impose limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end watered down. Instead, the government pledged to further research the topic.

Advocacy groups have expressed apprehensions. A prominent charity established by the loved ones of a teenager who took her own life after viewing disturbing platform posts argues that a strict age ban could fail to protect children and could lead to a "sudden drop-off" of harm when teens turn 16.

"The Australian ban is a response to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to create products and services that are appropriate and age appropriate for children," stated a influential online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Fragmented Approach

Across America, regulation is mostly happening at the state government level against a backdrop of country-wide inaction.

• Utah mandates guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and controls late-night use.
• Florida has passed a law prohibiting under-14s from joining social media, though it is entangled in legal challenges.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a rule capping teenagers to one hour of social media time per day, with any further access dependent on parental permission.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have also enacted laws demanding parental consent for teenagers to open social media accounts.

Despite bipartisan support and calls from some figures to follow this path, a nationwide ban is presently seen as improbable.

Worldwide Perspectives

Outside of Europe and the US, further states are also taking action.

• Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, world agencies strike a more cautious position. A major UN agency has warned that age-based restrictions carry risks and "might backfire". The agency highlights that the internet can be a "critical link" for marginalized youth and that government action should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to improve child safeguards.

As this global discussion unfolds, the policies of this nation and several other countries show that governments globally are increasingly content to stand by for tech companies to self-regulate.