Spain Bans Social Media for Children Under 16 in Landmark Digital Regulation

Spain Announces Europe’s First Under-16 Social Media Ban

Spain has announced a nationwide ban on social media access for children under 16 , becoming the first country in Europe and the second globally , after Australia , to impose such a restriction.

The decision marks a sharp escalation in regulatory action against digital platforms, reflecting growing concern over online harms, mental health risks, and data exploitation 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 . He stated that the ban would come into effect within a week , describing the online ecosystem as a “digital wild west” lacking effective oversight.

Spain’s move follows Australia, which implemented the world’s first under-16 social media ban in December 2025 , setting a precedent for state-led child protection in the digital space.

Platforms Compared to ‘Failed States’

In his remarks, Sánchez likened major social media platforms to “failed states” , arguing that:

• Algorithms amplify disinformation over facts

• Online abuse and hate speech affect nearly half of users

• Platforms profit from personal data while evading accountability

He asserted that existing laws are frequently ignored by platforms, necessitating stronger state intervention rather than voluntary compliance.

Mandatory Age Verification and Platform Criticism

A key feature of Spain’s policy is the requirement for robust age-verification mechanisms , replacing weak self-declared age checkboxes.

Sánchez highlighted what he described as systemic failures across major platforms:

• TikTok was criticised for hosting AI-generated child abuse material

• X (formerly Twitter) was accused of allowing its Grok chatbot to generate illegal sexual content

• Instagram was alleged to have monitored millions of Android users without sufficient safeguards

The government maintains that platform self-regulation has proven inadequate for child protection.

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 Spanish policy mandates compulsory age-verification systems

• Online child safety is increasingly treated as a regulatory obligation , not a voluntary measure

• The ban targets platform accountability , not