Spain’s government has unveiled plans to ban access to social media platforms for children under the age of 16 as part of a broader effort to protect young people from harmful online content and hold tech companies more accountable, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on Tuesday at the World Governments Summit in Dubai.
The proposed ban would require social media companies to implement robust age-verification systems to ensure that users under 16 cannot access services such as TikTok, Instagram and X. Sánchez described social media as having become a “digital Wild West” where laws are ignored and illegal material can spread unchecked.
The measure is part of a wider legislative package that would also make executives of social media companies responsible for illegal and harmful content on their platforms, and could include criminal sanctions for failure to enforce these rules, according to government officials.
Spain’s plans follow Australia’s implementation last year of the world’s first nationwide ban on social media use by under-16s, and come as other countries such as France, Denmark and the United Kingdom consider or move forward with similar restrictions aimed at safeguarding youth from online risks.
The proposed ban still needs approval from Spain’s parliament before it can become law, and the government does not currently hold a legislative majority, making its passage uncertain. Supporters of the initiative, including some opposition figures, argue it will strengthen protections for children, while critics say the details and enforcement mechanisms need to be clarified. (Newswire)
