Spain to Block Social Media Access for Minors Under 16

Spain will ban children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms and require companies to implement mandatory age-verification systems, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on Tuesday.

Speaking during the World Government Summit in Dubai, Sánchez said the move is aimed at protecting minors from the dangers of the digital world and holding technology companies accountable for harmful online content.

“Social media has turned into a failed state, where laws are ignored and crimes are tolerated,” Sánchez said. “We will protect our children from the digital Wild West.”

He added that the Spanish government will also introduce new legislation next week to hold senior executives of social media companies legally responsible for illegal and hate-inciting content hosted on their platforms. The proposed law is expected to strengthen oversight of digital companies and reinforce penalties for violations.

The announcement follows a landmark decision by Australia in December to impose the world’s first nationwide ban on social media use for children under 16. Several European countries are now considering similar measures, including the United Kingdom and France, as concerns grow over online safety, mental health, and exposure to harmful content.