Governments consider social media bans for minors
Greece plans to ban social media access for children under 15, with legislation effective January 1, 2027, as announced on April 8, 2026. As of April 8, 2026: Greece is urging the EU for a unified online child safety framework and standardized age verification tools by the end of 2026, threatening platforms with fines up to 6% of global revenue for non-compliance. This follows France's approval of a social media ban for under-15s on March 29, 2026, and Spain's law on March 25, 2026, raising the minimum age to 16 with parental authorization. The UK government initiated public consultations on March 4, 2026, regarding a potential ban for under-16s, with over two dozen countries proposing similar measures in the past year, including Australia, Germany, and Japan.
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April 2026 — 1 developments
Greece plans to ban social media access for children under 15, with the legislation set to take effect on January 1, 2027.
Greece plans to ban social media access for children under 15, with the legislation set to take effect on January 1, 2027. The government is also urging the EU to adopt a unified framework for online child safety and standardized age verification tools by the end of 2026, threatening platforms with fines of up to 6% of their global revenue for non-compliance.
March 2026 — 4 developments
France has approved a bill that bans social media for children under 15, joining a growing European trend of stricter online regulations for minors.
France has approved a bill that bans social media for children under 15, joining a growing European trend of stricter online regulations for minors. This measure aims to protect young people from negative impacts like mental health issues and exposure to harmful content.
Spain has approved a law raising the minimum age for opening a social media account to 16, requiring explicit parental authorization for those under that age.
Spain has approved a law raising the minimum age for opening a social media account to 16, requiring explicit parental authorization for those under that age. This legislative action is part of a broader trend in European countries to protect minors online.
The UK government has initiated public consultations regarding a potential ban on social media for individuals under 16.
The UK government has initiated public consultations regarding a potential ban on social media for individuals under 16. This consultation will explore measures such as disabling addictive features and implementing overnight curfews for minors. The move follows similar legislative efforts in Spain and Greece.
Over two dozen countries have proposed social media bans for minors in the past year, with Australia being the first to ban access for those under 16.
Over two dozen countries have proposed social media bans for minors in the past year, with Australia being the first to ban access for those under 16. This has influenced other nations like Germany, France, and the UK to consider similar measures. Greece, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Japan are also pursuing online identity verification laws.
February 2026 — 7 developments
Greece is preparing to ban social media use for those under 15, utilizing the existing 'Kids Wallet' parental-control app for enforcement.
Greece is preparing to ban social media use for those under 15, utilizing the existing 'Kids Wallet' parental-control app for enforcement. This universal ban will have no parental opt-out and will feature device-based age checks, aiming to curb digital addiction and protect minors online.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has expressed strong support for banning social media acces…
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has expressed strong support for banning social media access for minors, calling child protection a top priority and indicating a decision will be announced soon. Spain's proposed law also includes making algorithm manipulation a crime.
Spain has officially announced a nationwide ban on social media for individuals under the age of 16.
Spain has officially announced a nationwide ban on social media for individuals under the age of 16. This makes Spain the first European country to implement such a restriction. The ban is expected to be enforced within a week and requires social media companies to implement strict age verification systems.
Spain and Greece are moving forward with plans to ban social media for minors, with Spain prohibiting access for under-16s and Greece preparing a ban for under-15s.
Spain and Greece are moving forward with plans to ban social media for minors, with Spain prohibiting access for under-16s and Greece preparing a ban for under-15s. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated that social media executives would be held responsible for hate speech and that platforms must implement effective age-verification systems. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed support for the bans, emphasizing child protection and stating a decision would be announced soon.
Spain plans to ban social media access for children under 16, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez anno…
Spain plans to ban social media access for children under 16, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announcing the initiative on February 3, 2026, to protect young people from harmful online content. The proposed law will require social media companies to implement effective age verification systems. Greece is also preparing to introduce a nationwide ban on social media use for children under 15.
Greece is reportedly close to announcing a social media ban for children under 15, according to a senior government official.
Greece is reportedly close to announcing a social media ban for children under 15, according to a senior government official. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced plans to ban individuals under 16 from accessing social media platforms, with a bill potentially introduced as early as next week. These proposed measures have drawn criticism from figures like Elon Musk.
Spain, Greece, and France are collaborating to mandate age verification on social media platforms, w…
Spain, Greece, and France are collaborating to mandate age verification on social media platforms, with Spain becoming the first European country to ban social media for those under 16. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the measures, which include "real age-verification barriers" and increased accountability for platforms. Five other European countries, including France and the UK, are reportedly joining Spain's crackdown.