Spain to Legislate Social Media Access Ban for Children Under 16, Joining Broader Movement
Published
Key Takeaways
- New Legislation: The Spanish government will introduce legislation to ban children under 16 from accessing social media platforms.
- Mandatory Age Verification: A central component of the proposed law will require platforms to implement effective age-verification systems.
- International Trend: Spain's policy proposal aligns with a growing movement across Europe and in Australia to regulate minors' access to social media.
Spain has announced that it will legislate a ban preventing children under 16 from accessing social media. The proposed Spanish social media ban is part of a broader government effort to regulate digital platforms and enhance child safety online. The legislation, expected to be introduced shortly, will focus on creating a safer online environment for young users.
Sanchez articulated the government's position at the World Government Summit in Dubai, stating the initiative is designed to protect minors from what he described as a "digital Wild West" where laws are often ignored, Euronews reported.
Age Verification and Content Regulation
A critical element of the proposed policy is a mandate for social media age verification, requiring platforms to implement age-verification systems. This measure aims to address the ease with which children under 16 access social media by creating a technical barrier.Â
In addition to the age restrictions, the Spanish government plans to introduce broader legislation to regulate social media content, further solidifying the country's commitment to Pedro Sánchez's digital safety policies.Â
This follows a trend of increasing regulatory scrutiny on technology companies regarding their impact on youth mental health and safety.
A Growing European Movement
Spain's initiative is part of a larger international trend. In December, Australia also moved age verification from compliance to court for the under-16 social media ban.Â
In Europe, the Netherlands last week announced plans for a similar ban for those under 15. This month, TechNadu reported on France and Türkiye plans to ban social media for children under 15. Meanwhile, the U.K. is considering new social media rules to protect children.
This coordinated push is linked to a growing consensus among policymakers that stricter regulations are necessary to mitigate the potential harms associated with social media use among younger demographics.
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