From Australia to Europe, countries move to curb children’s social media access

Australia was the first country to ban social media for children under 16 in December 2025, with strict penalties for non-compliant platforms. Britain plans to enforce a similar ban by spring 2027, requiring tech companies to implement age verification systems. China introduced a "minor mode" program that restricts screen time based on age, while Denmark is set to ban social media use for under-15s.

France's top court blocked a bill banning access for under-15s due to concerns about freedom of expression. Germany requires parental consent for minors aged 13 to 16 to use social media. Greece is close to implementing a ban for children under 15, while India's chief economic adviser called for age restrictions, describing social media companies as "predatory."

Italy requires parental consent for children under 14 to sign up for social media accounts. Malaysia has begun barring users under 16 from registering on social media platforms. New Zealand's prime minister is proposing a ban on children under 16, with fines up to 10% of a platform's global revenue for non-compliance. Norway proposed raising the age for parental consent for social media use from 13 to 15 in 2024, while Poland's ruling party is preparing legislation to ban social media for children under 15 and hold platforms responsible for age verification.

Slovenia is drafting a law to prohibit children under 15 from accessing social media. Spain will implement new rules to make social networks and AI safer, including a ban on minors under 16 and mandatory age verification systems. Sweden's government-appointed commission recommends a minimum age of 15 for social media use, and Turkey's parliament passed legislation banning social media use by children under 15.

The UAE approved a resolution setting the minimum age for social media use at 15, making it the first Arab country to introduce such a measure. In the US, a bill to force social media companies to protect children and teenagers cleared a key political hurdle. Several US states have also passed laws requiring parental consent for minors to access social media.