Spain plans social media ban for children under 16

Spain has announced plans to restrict access to social media platforms for children under the age of 16, alongside mandatory age-verification requirements for digital companies.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez outlined the proposed measures on Tuesday while speaking at the World Government Summit in Dubai, warning that online platforms expose children to harmful content they are ill-equipped to handle alone.

“Our children are facing spaces they were never meant to navigate by themselves,” Sánchez said. “We will protect them from the digital Wild West.”

He cited concerns over the spread of hate speech, pornography and disinformation on social media, arguing that existing safeguards are inadequate.

Under the proposed legislation, social media companies will be required to implement effective age-verification systems rather than relying on self-reported age checks, such as tick-box confirmations.

The government also plans to introduce new legal responsibilities for social media executives, holding them accountable for illegal content, hate speech and the manipulation of algorithms.

The legislation would criminalise the amplification of unlawful content and grant prosecutors expanded powers to investigate digital violations.

Spain’s move follows similar actions abroad. Australia introduced a ban on social media use for children under 16 in December, while Britain and France are also considering tighter restrictions.

Sánchez said Spain has joined a group of five European countries known as the “Coalition of the Digitally Willing”, which aims to coordinate cross-border regulation and enforcement of online safety rules. The coalition is expected to hold its first meeting in the coming weeks.