Spain moves to restrict social media use for under-16s

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the proposal would form part of a broader package of child-protection measures aimed at tackling cyberbullying, addictive design features and the spread of harmful content among young users. The plan, outlined during a public address on Tuesday, places Spain among a growing group of countries reassessing how far existing digital rules protect children in an environment dominated by global platforms.

Under the proposal, social media companies would be required to prevent account creation and active use by anyone under 16, a threshold higher than the age limits commonly applied by platforms themselves. Most major networks formally restrict accounts to users aged 13, relying largely on self-declaration rather than robust verification. Spanish officials argue that system leaves children exposed to material and interactions that can damage mental health and personal safety.

Government figures say the initiative is driven by mounting evidence linking intensive social media use among adolescents to anxiety, sleep disorders, exposure to sexualised content and online harassment. Education and health authorities have reported a steady rise in complaints involving digital bullying and the non-consensual sharing of images among school-age children, prompting renewed pressure on policymakers to intervene.

The proposed ban is expected to rely heavily on stricter age-verification mechanisms. Officials have indicated that platforms operating in Spain would need to introduce more reliable checks, potentially involving digital identity systems or parental authorisation tools. That requirement is likely to revive debates over data protection and privacy, particularly around how companies collect and store personal information to verify age without creating new risks.

Legal experts note that Spain already has a relatively high age of digital consent for data processing, set at 14 under national law, above the minimum allowed under European Union rules. Moving to a full prohibition on social media use for under-16s would therefore represent a significant escalation rather than a minor regulatory adjustment. Any legislation would need to align with EU-wide frameworks governing digital services, competition and fundamental rights.

The announcement comes as governments across Europe and beyond tighten scrutiny of technology firms. Several countries have introduced or proposed measures aimed at limiting screen time for children, banning smartphones in schools or compelling platforms to redesign features seen as addictive. At EU level, regulators have begun using new digital laws to investigate whether large platforms adequately protect minors from harmful content and opaque algorithms.

Spain’s move also reflects growing political momentum around child online safety ahead of national and European elections, where digital wellbeing has emerged as a cross-party issue. While Sánchez’s centre-left government has framed the proposal as a public-health and child-rights measure, opposition parties are weighing how far they support state intervention versus parental responsibility. Some conservative lawmakers have warned against what they describe as over-regulation, arguing that enforcement will be difficult and could push teenagers towards less regulated online spaces.

Technology companies are expected to lobby against a blanket ban, citing practical and legal challenges. Industry representatives have previously argued that age verification at scale is costly and imperfect, and that responsibility should be shared among platforms, parents and schools. They also point to the educational and social benefits that online communities can offer young people when properly supervised.

Child-advocacy groups, by contrast, have broadly welcomed the direction of travel. Many have long argued that voluntary safeguards and self-regulation by platforms have failed to keep pace with the rapid evolution of online services. They say a clear legal standard would force companies to redesign products with children’s safety as a priority rather than an afterthought.