Spain Bans Social Media Access for Children Under 16

Spain has announced a nationwide ban on social media access for children under the age of 16, becoming the second country globally after Australia to impose such a restriction and the first in Europe. The decision marks a significant escalation in regulatory action against digital platforms amid growing concerns over online harms affecting minors.

Government Announcement and Global Context

The policy was announced by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez during his address at the World Government Summit in Dubai. Sánchez said the ban would come into force within a week, describing the current online environment as a “digital wild west.” With this move, Spain follows Australia, which enforced a similar under-16 social media ban in December last year.

Social Media Platforms Branded as ‘Failed States’

In his speech, Sánchez compared social media platforms to “failed states,” arguing that algorithms distort public discourse while laws are routinely ignored. He claimed that disinformation is often rewarded over truth and that online hate speech affects nearly half of users. According to Sánchez, platforms profit from user data while failing to ensure safety, accountability, or compliance with existing regulations.

Mandatory Age Verification and Platform Criticism

The Spanish government will require platforms to deploy robust age-verification systems, moving beyond self-declared age checkboxes. Sánchez highlighted what he called systemic failures across major platforms. He criticised TikTok for hosting AI-generated child abuse material, X for allowing its Grok chatbot to generate illegal sexual content, and Instagram for allegedly monitoring millions of Android users without adequate safeguards.

Important Facts for Exams

• Spain is the first European country to impose a nationwide under-16 social media ban.
• Australia implemented the world’s first such ban in December 2025.
• The policy mandates compulsory age-verification systems on platforms.
• Online child safety is increasingly treated as a regulatory, not voluntary, issue.

International Ripple Effects and Industry Response

Sánchez stated that five other European countries are preparing similar restrictions, signalling a broader regional shift. In Australia, the ban prompted pushback from tech firms. Meta reported removing over 550,000 underage accounts and urged governments to consider industry-led safety standards rather than blanket prohibitions. Spain’s move is expected to intensify the global debate on child protection, digital rights, and platform accountability.