Spain has announced plans to restrict access to social media platforms for children under the age of 16, marking a major step toward tighter digital regulation. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez revealed the proposal on Tuesday while speaking at the World Government Summit in Dubai.
Sánchez said children are increasingly exposed to online spaces they cannot safely navigate alone. He warned that social media platforms expose minors to hate speech pornography misinformation and harmful algorithms. Our children are facing spaces they were never meant to handle by themselves he said describing the internet as a digital Wild West that requires firm regulation.
Under the proposed laws, social media companies will be required to implement effective age-verification systems, replacing simple checkbox confirmations.The government also plans to hold social media executives legally accountable for illegal content hate speech and algorithmic manipulation. The amplification of illegal content will be criminalized and prosecutors will be given stronger investigative powers.
Spain is joining international efforts to regulate online platforms. Australia has already banned social media for children under 16 while Britain and France are considering similar measures. Sánchez said Spain is now part of a five country alliance called the Coalition of the Digitally Willing aimed at coordinating cross-border enforcement.
Authorities may also investigate major platforms, including TikTok Instagram and Grok.
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