Spain to prohibit social media use for kids under 16

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Spain is planning to prohibit minors under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms, with companies required to deploy age verification systems, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Tuesday. This initiative is part of a series of measures aimed at creating a safer digital environment.

The socialist coalition government has consistently raised concerns over the widespread presence of hate speech, explicit content, and misinformation on social media, which they believe adversely impacts young people.

“Our children are exposed to an environment they were never meant to navigate alone… We will no longer accept that,” Sanchez stated during the World Government Summit in Dubai. He also urged other European nations to adopt similar policies.

“Protecting them from the digital Wild West is our goal,” he added.

Australia pioneered this approach in December by banning social media for children under 16, a move closely observed by nations like Britain and France, which are considering similar age-based restrictions.

Sanchez also mentioned that a new bill will be introduced next week to hold social media executives responsible for illegal and harmful content, and to criminalize the manipulation of algorithms and the spread of illegal material.

Additionally, authorities will examine ways to investigate potential legal violations by companies such as Elon Musk’s Grok, TikTok, and Instagram.