The Spanish government has announced plans to prohibit children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms, placing the country among a growing group of nations tightening regulation to protect minors in the digital space. The measure was confirmed on Tuesday (3) and is expected to significantly reshape how online platforms operate in Spain.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez unveiled the initiative during his appearance at the World Government Summit in Dubai. According to Sánchez, the new rules will require social media companies to adopt mandatory and effective age-verification systems, replacing the current voluntary or easily bypassed checks.
“Optional controls are no longer enough,” Sánchez said, arguing that platforms must introduce “real barriers that work” to prevent minors from registering and accessing their services.
A Harder Line on Platforms and Executives
Under the proposal, social networks would be explicitly barred from allowing users under 16 to create accounts. The measure will be incorporated into a bill already under parliamentary debate and is expected to be submitted to the Council of Ministers for approval next week.
The Spanish government has taken a particularly critical stance toward social media platforms, with Sánchez describing them as a kind of “failed state” where harmful behavior is often tolerated. He referred to the current digital environment as a “digital Wild West,” stressing the need for stronger public oversight to protect children and adolescents.
Beyond age restrictions, the planned legislation would also introduce criminal liability for social media executives who fail to remove illegal or hateful content from their platforms. The proposal includes penalties for algorithmic practices that amplify such material, signaling a more aggressive regulatory approach that goes beyond user access alone.
Spain has also joined a coalition with five other European countries to coordinate enforcement and cross-border regulation, aiming to prevent platforms from exploiting legal differences between jurisdictions.
Following Australia’s Lead
Spain’s move mirrors a landmark decision taken by Australia, which in December 2025 became the first country to pass legislation banning social media access for children under 16. Under Australian law, responsibility for compliance lies with technology companies rather than parents or young users.
Platforms operating in Australia—including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X—must prevent underage users from holding accounts. Companies that fail to comply face fines of up to nearly 50 million Australian dollars.
To meet these requirements, Australian regulations allow companies to use methods such as age estimation through facial biometrics or official identification documents, provided the measures are considered reasonable and effective.
Spain is not alone in reconsidering children’s access to social media. France has already passed legislation banning social networks for children under 15, while Denmark has announced plans to introduce similar restrictions. The United Kingdom is also preparing legislation aimed at limiting young people’s use of social platforms.
Together, these moves point to a broader shift in Europe toward stricter oversight of the digital environment, particularly where minors are concerned. If approved, Spain’s ban would rank among the toughest in the region and further intensify pressure on global technology companies to rethink how they design, moderate, and regulate their platforms for younger audiences.
