Spain is poised to enact sweeping legislation that will ban under-16s from accessing social media platforms, a move signaling a hardening stance by European governments towards protecting minors in the digital space. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the planned ban , during an address at the World Government Summit in Dubai.
The proposed law will require social media companies operating in Spain to implement “effective age verification systems,” going beyond simple checkbox confirmations to establish “real barriers that work,” according to Sánchez. He framed the measure as a necessary step to shield children from the “toxic content” prevalent online, describing the current digital environment as a “digital Wild West” where young people are exposed to “addiction, abuse, pornography, manipulation, and violence.”
The ban is part of a broader package of measures aimed at “regaining control” of the digital space, Sánchez stated. The government intends to submit the legislation to the Council of Ministers for approval next week, amending a draft bill already under debate in the Spanish parliament. Beyond restricting access, the proposed legislation will also seek to hold social media executives legally accountable for illegal content shared on their platforms, and criminalize the manipulation of algorithms used to amplify such content.
Sánchez outlined plans to create a system for tracking and quantifying the spread of hate speech and disinformation online, dubbed a “Hate and Polarisation Footprint.” He also indicated that the public prosecutor’s office would be tasked with examining potential legal breaches by platforms like Grok, TikTok, and Instagram.
Spain’s move follows a similar initiative by Australia, which in December became the first country globally to implement a social media ban for under-16s, blocking access to ten platforms including Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and X. Several other European nations are also considering or have announced plans for similar restrictions. France is pushing to implement a ban on under-15s by , while Denmark has announced plans for a ban on under-15s. Portugal is also moving towards requiring parental consent for under-16s to access social media, with draft legislation submitted by the governing Social Democratic Party .
The Spanish government’s announcement also includes provisions to criminalize the manipulation of algorithms and the amplification of illegal content. Sánchez emphasized that spreading hate “must come at a cost,” signaling a willingness to impose sanctions on both individuals and platforms found to be facilitating the dissemination of harmful material. The government also intends to pursue legal action against platform executives who fail to remove illegal or hateful content promptly.
The move reflects a growing international concern over the impact of social media on young people’s mental health and well-being. While the specific details of the age verification systems remain to be determined, the Spanish government has stressed the need for robust and effective measures to prevent underage access. The legislation aims to create a “healthy space” online, particularly for children and teenagers, according to Sánchez.
The proposed measures are expected to face scrutiny from tech companies, who may argue that implementing effective age verification systems will be technically challenging and potentially infringe on user privacy. However, the Spanish government appears determined to press ahead with the legislation, citing the need to protect minors from the risks associated with unrestricted access to social media.
The broader context of this legislative push is a growing recognition among governments worldwide of the need to regulate the power and influence of large tech companies. The Spanish government’s proposals, which include holding executives criminally liable for illegal content, represent a significant escalation in this effort, signaling a willingness to impose stricter accountability on social media platforms.
