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The nation's decisive policy to restrict social platforms access for those under 16 is sending ripples around the globe. Politicians, safety advocates, and families are observing with great interest to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

The European Trend

Across Europe, a growing number of countries are considering comparable restrictions.

• Denmark has announced a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the PM stating that smartphones and platforms are "taking away our youngsters' youth". Legislation could be passed soon.
• The Norwegian government is planning to introduce a access barrier of 15, highlighting the need to protect the young from the "manipulative force of the AI".
• Ireland is working on a digital wallet to authenticate the identity and age of social media account holders. Authorities have stated that an similar ban is "an options in reserve".
• In Spain, the prime minister has urged the legislature to pass a law lifting the access age for accessing social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a similar move, potentially involving an overnight "internet blackout" for older teenagers.
• The government in the Netherlands has urged parents to restrict their children from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the EU parliament has approved a advisory motion demanding a ban for teenagers under 16 except if a parent decides otherwise is provided. While it warns of the "compulsive" quality of these platforms, the step does not enact binding law.

"A strong age limit is a solid foundation," said a leading parliamentarian driving the measure.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Stance

In the UK, the leadership has not ruled out a future ban, emphasizing that "no measure is discarded" but insisting any decision must be "grounded in conclusive research".

Earlier, interest built behind a legislative effort to impose limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end modified. Instead, the administration pledged to conduct more studies the matter.

Campaign organizations have raised warnings. One foundation set up by the family of a young person who was lost after encountering harmful social media material contends that a simple age ban might not improve online safety and could create a "cliff edge" of risk when teens reach the legal age.

"This ban is a reaction to the failure of the social media companies to design platforms and apps that are safe and suitable for minors," said a influential child protection advocate.

America: A Decentralized Picture

In the United States, regulation is primarily occurring at the regional level due to federal gridlock.

• Utah demands guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and limits overnight use.
• Florida has passed a bill prohibiting those below 14 from accessing social media, though it is subject to legal challenges.
• Virginia has approved a regulation capping under-16s to one hour of social media use per day, with additional access needing adult consent.
• The state of Georgia, Tennessee, and The state of Louisiana have likewise introduced laws demanding guardian approval for minors to create social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and proposals from certain individuals to follow Australia's lead, a nationwide ban is right now seen as a distant prospect.

International Perspectives

Apart from these regions, further states are similarly considering moves.

• Malaysia plans to restrict social media for under-16s effective next year.
• Brazil has increased the access age for the platform Instagram to 16.

But, international bodies strike a more measured tone. Unicef has cautioned that social media bans carry risks and "could have unintended consequences". The body notes that online platforms can be a "critical link" for isolated youth and that regulation should not be a "excuse" for tech companies to improve safety.

While this worldwide discussion unfolds, the steps of this nation and its followers demonstrate that governments around the world are increasingly content to wait for the industry to self-regulate.