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The nation's decisive action to ban social platforms access for young people below 16 is sparking debate worldwide. Politicians, safety advocates, and parents are monitoring closely to see if this strategy will set a precedent for the rest of the world.

European Movement

In Europe, a growing chorus of states are exploring parallel measures.

• The Danish government has announced a prohibition on social media for under-15s, with the PM declaring that phones and platforms are "stealing our kids' childhood". The policy could be formalized in the coming year.
• The Norwegian government is planning to enforce a age restriction of 15, highlighting the need to safeguard the young from the "manipulative force of the AI".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the age and identity of social media participants. Authorities have indicated that an Australian-model ban is "a potential options on the table".
• In Spain, the prime minister has called on the legislature to approve a law lifting the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In The French government, the head of state has proposed a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has suggested a comparable move, alongside an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The administration in the Netherlands has advised guardians to block their kids from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the bloc's legislature has adopted a non-binding statement supporting a ban for minors unless guardian approval is given. Although it cautions of the "habit-forming" quality of these services, the move does not enact mandatory rules.

"A clear age barrier is a solid starting point," said one European lawmaker driving the initiative.

The UK: A Watchful Stance

In the UK, the leadership has not ruled out a future ban, emphasizing that "nothing is discarded" but insisting any decision must be "grounded in robust data".

Last year, momentum grew behind a bill to enact controls on social media use by minors, but it was ultimately watered down. Instead, the government pledged to further research the topic.

Campaign organizations have voiced warnings. One foundation founded by the relatives of a teenager who died after viewing dangerous social media material suggests that a simple age ban could fail to improve online safety and could result in a "cliff edge" of risk when users turn 16.

"This ban is a response to the refusal of the social media companies to design platforms and apps that are safe and age appropriate for children," said a prominent online safety campaigner.

The US: A Fragmented Landscape

Stateside, regulation is primarily unfolding at the local government level against a backdrop of national stalemate.

• Utah demands adult approval for minors to use social media and restricts overnight use.
• Florida has passed a measure barring under-14s from creating accounts on social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• The state of Virginia has enacted a law capping under-16s to a single hour of social media time per day, with additional use requiring a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted laws demanding parental consent for under-16s to open social media profiles.

Despite bipartisan support and proposals from various figures to mimic this path, a US-wide ban is currently seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Perspectives

Apart from these regions, other nations are similarly exploring options.

• Malaysia aims to restrict social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
• Brazil has raised the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

But, global bodies strike a more cautious tone. A major UN agency has cautioned that blanket prohibitions carry risks and "might backfire". The organization highlights that social networks can be a "lifeline" for isolated young people and that government action should not be a "excuse" for platform operators to prioritize safety.

While this global conversation continues, the actions of this nation and several other countries show that states internationally are less and less willing to wait for the industry to make changes on their own.