Context:
Recently, Spain has joined a growing global trend to tighten regulations on children’s access to social media. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on 3 February 2026, at the World Government Summit in Dubai, that his government plans to ban social media use for those under 16 years of age. This move aims to protect minors from online harms and ensure safer digital engagement for young users.
Why Is Spain Taking This Step?
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- Protection Against Online Harms: The Spanish government has highlighted that children face significant online risks, including:
- Exposure to pornographic and sexually exploitative content, including harmful AI-generated material.
- Interaction with hate speech, disinformation, and violent content.
- Adverse effects on mental health, well-being, and social development.
- Prime Minister Sánchez described social media as a “digital Wild West,” where children navigate complex digital spaces without adequate safeguards.
- Exposure to pornographic and sexually exploitative content, including harmful AI-generated material.
- Protection Against Online Harms: The Spanish government has highlighted that children face significant online risks, including:
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Key Provisions of Spain’s Proposal:
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- Age Restriction
- Minors under 16 would be prohibited from accessing or creating social media profiles.
- Platforms would be required to implement robust age-verification systems, going beyond simple tick-box checks.
- The ban would be integrated into existing digital safety laws currently under parliamentary discussion.
- Minors under 16 would be prohibited from accessing or creating social media profiles.
- Broad Digital Safety Reforms
- Legal accountability for social media executives who fail to remove illegal content.
- Criminalisation of algorithmic amplification of harmful or illegal material.
- New measures to monitor hate speech and online polarisation.
- Legal accountability for social media executives who fail to remove illegal content.
- Age Restriction
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International Context:
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- Australia: In December 2025, Australia became the first country to enforce a blanket ban on social media for under-16s under the Online Safety Amendment Act, penalising non-compliant platforms.
- France: France has passed a bill to ban social media use for children under 15, effective from 2026, and has also sought to restrict mobile phone use in schools.
- Wider European Movement: Countries such as Denmark and parts of the United Kingdom are considering similar measures, signalling a broader European trend.
- Australia: In December 2025, Australia became the first country to enforce a blanket ban on social media for under-16s under the Online Safety Amendment Act, penalising non-compliant platforms.
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Challenges and Practical Considerations:
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- Verification and Enforcement: Effective age verification is technically challenging and may raise privacy concerns.
- Legislative Hurdles: The Spanish government lacks a parliamentary majority, requiring broader political support.
- Balancing Rights: Critics warn that such bans may limit freedom of expression and shift attention away from digital literacy initiatives.
- Verification and Enforcement: Effective age verification is technically challenging and may raise privacy concerns.
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Conclusion:
Spain’s proposed ban reflects growing global concern over children’s exposure to online harms. By following the path set by Australia and France, Spain aims to redefine platform responsibility towards minors while balancing child protection, digital freedom, and government regulation. The proposal carries significant implications for young users, technology companies, and society at large.
