Spain is preparing to ban children under 16 from using social media. The government will also require platforms to use strict age checks to make sure young users cannot easily sign up. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the plan on Tuesday while speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai.
He said children are being exposed to harmful online spaces. “Our children are exposed to a space they were never meant to navigate alone,” he said. He described social media as a place filled with addiction, abuse, pornography, manipulation, and violence. “We will no longer accept that,” he added. “We will protect them from the digital Wild West.”
The Spanish government will begin the legal process next week.
Under the proposed law, social media companies will have to use strong systems to verify users’ ages. Executives could also face criminal charges if they fail to remove illegal or hateful content.
The government also plans to punish people and platforms that help spread illegal content through algorithms. Sánchez said turning the manipulation and amplification of illegal content into a criminal offense would send a clear message. “Spreading hate must come at a cost,” he said.
Another idea under discussion is creating a system to measure how digital platforms increase hate and division. The government calls it a “hate and polarization footprint.” It would track how online platforms may fuel social tensions.
Spain is not alone in taking action.
In December, Australia became the first country in the world to ban social media for under-16s. The law blocks access to major platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and X.
The United Kingdom is considering similar steps. France and Denmark have also announced plans to stop children under 15 from accessing social media.
French President Emmanuel Macron recently said he wants the ban in France to be in place before the new school year begins in September.
Sánchez said Spain is working with five other European countries to push for stricter and faster rules for social media companies. He did not name the countries but said they will meet soon to coordinate their efforts.
“This is a battle that goes beyond any one country,” Sánchez said. As more governments move to regulate social media, the debate over how to protect children online is becoming a global issue.
