Spain will ban social media for kids under 16
"We will protect [children] from the digital Wild West," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez reportedly said in remarks at the World Government Summit in Dubai.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Tuesday that the country will ban children under age 16 from accessing social media and will mandate that platforms require age verification.
Australia barred children under age 16 from social media platforms in December and since then leaders across Europe have said they are exploring or are already planning on similar bans.
"We will protect [children] from the digital Wild West," Sanchez reportedly said in remarks at the World Government Summit in Dubai. "Social media has become a failed state, where laws are ignored, and crimes are tolerated.”
Source: https://therecord.media/spain-to-ban-social-media-children
Related breach coverage
- UK says it will consider banning social media for children2026-01-20
British ministers will visit Australia to “learn first-hand from their approach,” the government’s Monday announcement said, alluding to the country’s controversial ban on social media use for children under age 16.
- Norway's prime minister proposes ban on social media access for young teens2026-04-24
An upcoming proposed bill will include language that holds big tech accountable for using age verification tools to block young users.
- French Senate passes bill that would ban children under 15 from social media2026-04-02
If the French effort becomes law, it would make France the first European country to follow Australia’s lead by banning social media for young teenagers.
- UK pilot program to test social media restrictions on families before government decides on ban2026-03-24
The U.K. government will try out various social media restrictions on certain families as part of a pilot program as it mulls a potential social media ban for teens.
