Spain announces ban on social networks for children under 16

The Spanish government announced that it intends to ban access to social media for children under 16 and require digital platforms to adopt effective age verification systems. The initiative was presented by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez as part of a set of measures aimed at creating a digital environment considered safer for children and adolescents.

Speaking during the World Government Summit in Dubai, Sánchez stated that the unrestricted use of networks exposes young people to inappropriate content and dynamics that can cause harm. According to him, hate speech, pornography and misinformation circulate widely on platforms and directly affect younger audiences, which led the government to defend stricter regulatory intervention.

The Prime Minister maintained that the protection of minors in the digital environment is a challenge that goes beyond national borders. In this context, he reported that Spain has joined a network with other European countries to coordinate transnational rules and inspection mechanisms, although he did not detail which governments are participating in the initiative or how its practical implementation will take place.

The Spanish proposal comes amid a broader international debate about age limits for using social media. In December, Australia announced a similar ban for children under 16, a measure that began to be observed by other European countries, such as the United Kingdom and France, which evaluate policies based on age criteria.

In addition to restricting access, the Spanish government intends to advance the accountability of technology companies. A bill, expected to be presented in the coming days, should establish rules to hold executives responsible for illegal content and hate speech practices, in addition to making algorithmic manipulation and amplification of material considered illegal a crime.

Among the measures under study is the creation of specific mechanisms to monitor hate speech on the internet. Platforms would also be required to adopt more robust age verification systems, which go beyond simple user declarations, seeking to effectively prove the age group of those accessing the services.

Sánchez also stated that Spanish authorities are evaluating how to investigate possible irregularities involving large digital platforms, citing services such as TikTok, Instagram and Grok, linked to businessman Elon Musk. According to him, the intention is to ensure that the rules are followed uniformly and that there are no regulatory loopholes.

The announcement reinforces the Spanish government’s strategy of expanding regulation of the digital environment, especially with regard to the protection of minors, and places the country at the center of a debate that is likely to intensify in the European Union in the coming months.