Spain Considers Joining Other Countries in Banning Social Media for Children

Spain Plans to Restrict Social Media Access for Minors

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on Tuesday that the country intends to prohibit children under 16 from accessing social media. This initiative is part of a broader effort to safeguard young people from harmful online content.

While speaking at the Dubai Summit, Sánchez criticized major tech companies for allowing illegal content—like child sexual abuse materials and non-consensual deepfake images—on their platforms. He emphasized that governments need to “stop turning a blind eye” to these issues.

“Our children are navigating spaces that they’re not equipped to handle alone,” Sánchez stated. “This is unacceptable.”

Spain follows in the footsteps of several other countries, such as Australia and France, that are implementing or contemplating regulations to limit minors’ access to social media.

In January, France passed a bill that restricts social media use for children under 15, set to take effect at the start of the next school year. This bill will also ban cell phone use in high schools.

Australia is enacting what is reported to be the first social media ban for under-16s, emphasizing that platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram must ensure children cannot create accounts.

Similarly, Denmark is passing legislation to disallow social media access for those under 15, while the UK has announced plans to consider a similar measure to better protect teens from harmful content and excessive screen time.

Sánchez noted that social media companies will be required to implement age verification systems—real, effective measures rather than simple checkboxes.

Currently, many social media applications stipulate a minimum age of 13, but the enforcement of these rules varies, often relying on users to self-report their age.

The proposed ban in Spain will complement ongoing discussions regarding digital protections for minors in parliament, with a government representative stating this could advance as early as next week.

It remains uncertain if Sánchez’s left-wing coalition can secure the necessary support in Congress, where they do not hold a majority. A spokesperson for the far-right Vox party accused the government of being too cautious, while the opposition center-right People’s Party seemed to back the initiative, noting they had endorsed similar restrictions previously.

Additionally, Spain, alongside five other European nations, has joined the “Digital Orientation Coalition” to work on social media regulation at a multinational level.

Sánchez also announced intentions to criminalize the manipulation of algorithms to promote illegal content and to hold tech executives responsible for not removing such materials from their platforms.