- By Shivangi Sharma
- Tue, 03 Feb 2026 04:00 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Spain will ban access to social media platforms for children under the age of 16 and require companies to introduce mandatory age-verification systems, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Tuesday while addressing the World Government Summit in Dubai. The move is part of a broader push by Madrid to rein in what Sánchez described as an increasingly lawless digital environment, particularly for young users.
“Social media has become a failed state, where laws are ignored and crimes are tolerated,” Sánchez said during his speech. “Our children are exposed to a space they were never meant to navigate alone. We will no longer accept that. We will protect them from the digital Wild West.”
Under the proposed measures, social media platforms operating in Spain will be legally obliged to verify users’ ages to prevent minors under 16 from accessing their services. While details of the verification mechanism have not yet been made public, the government signalled that platforms themselves would bear responsibility for ensuring compliance.
Crackdown On Platforms And Social Media Executives
Sanchez also said his left-wing coalition government would introduce a new bill next week aimed at holding social media executives personally accountable for illegal and hateful content hosted on their platforms. The legislation is expected to include provisions to criminalise the manipulation of algorithms that amplify illegal material, hate speech or disinformation.
Spanish authorities have repeatedly raised concerns about the proliferation of harmful content online, including hate speech, pornography and false information, warning that such material has a damaging impact on young people’s mental health and social development. The government has argued that voluntary self-regulation by technology companies has failed to adequately protect minors.
Australia Sets Precedent As Global Scrutiny Grows
Spain’s announcement follows Australia’s decision in December to become the first country to ban social media access for children under 16, a move that has drawn both praise and criticism globally. While many parents and child advocacy groups welcomed Australia’s step, major technology firms and free-speech advocates warned it could drive teenagers towards less regulated and potentially more dangerous online spaces.
Several European countries are now considering similar age-based restrictions. France’s National Assembly has backed legislation to ban social media use for children under 15, while Britain, Denmark and Greece are also examining tighter controls on minors’ access to digital platforms.