By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Spanish government has announced plans to ban access to social media platforms for children under the age of 16, a policy that would make Spain one of the latest countries to enforce strict age limits on online services aimed at protecting youth from harmful digital content.
The measure was unveiled on February 3rd by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, as part of a broader digital safety initiative.
Under the government’s proposal, social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and X would be prohibited from allowing users below 16 to access their services.
The plan also includes requirements that companies implement effective age verification systems to ensure compliance.
Sánchez described social media as a “digital Wild West”, expressing concern that children and teenagers are exposed to addiction, bullying, harmful content and data exploitation without adequate safeguards.
He said the move is intended to restore safer online spaces for minors.
The ban is part of a package of proposed reforms that would also hold tech executives accountable for illegal content on their platforms and increase legal responsibility for how algorithms promote or amplify harmful material.
Recent research shows that the proposal has strong backing among the wider Spanish public. A BBVA Foundation study found that about 77 percent of Spaniards support banning social media access for those under 16, with many also in favour of restricting mobile phone use in schools.
The study, which surveyed around 2,000 adults, revealed broad agreement across age and demographic groups, although younger respondents and students were somewhat less enthusiastic than older adults.
Spain’s move aligns it with other countries like Australia, which has already introduced similar measures to limit under-16s from social media use.
