Spain is set to ban social media access for children under 16 and will require platforms to implement strict age verification tools, joining countries like Australia, France, and Denmark in efforts to shield minors from harmful online content.
Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai on February 3, 2026, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said:
“Our children are exposed to a space they were never meant to navigate alone. A space of addiction, abuse, pornography, manipulation, and violence. We will no longer accept that. We will protect them from the digital Wild West.”
Under the new rules, social media executives could face criminal liability if they fail to remove illegal or hateful content. Sánchez also announced that individuals and platforms that amplify such content, especially via algorithms, will face sanctions.
“We will turn algorithmic manipulation and amplification of illegal content into a new criminal offense. Spreading hate must come at a cost,” he said.
The legislation is expected to begin its parliamentary process next week. Among other measures, the government plans to create a “hate and polarization footprint” system to track and quantify how digital platforms fuel division and amplify hate online.
According to CNN, Spain is joining a growing international movement to regulate children’s access to social media. In December 2025, Australia became the first country to bar under-16s from 10 major platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and X.
France and Denmark have recently proposed similar restrictions for under-15s, and the UK is currently considering comparable measures. French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed a desire to implement the ban before the start of the 2026 school year.
Sánchez further revealed that Spain has partnered with five other European nations “committed to enforcing stricter, faster, and more effective regulation of social media.” While he did not name the countries, he confirmed that the group would hold its first meeting soon to coordinate enforcement across borders.
“This is a battle that far exceeds the boundaries of any country,” Sánchez said, underlining the global dimension of regulating online platforms.
With rising concerns over online safety, addiction, and digital manipulation, Spain’s move reflects a broader international trend to protect young users and hold tech companies accountable for the content on their platforms.
