PP targets social media addiction with plans to restrict endless scrolling in Spain

Spanish political party, the Partido Popular (PP), has announced plans to curb social media addiction in the country. The policy proposals form part of the party's election program, which will be presented by Alberto Núñez Feijóo on November 10th, ahead of the general election on November 29th.

Under the plan, children under 14 would not be allowed to access social media platforms, while those aged 14 to 16 would require parental permission before using the networks. Companies running the platforms would also have to introduce mandatory age verification systems, replacing the current practice of users simply ticking a box confirming their age.

The PPC wants social media companies to change features like infinite scrolling, which encourages users to remain online indefinitely. Instead, platforms would have to limit this feature and introduce maximum usage times. They would also be required to provide night-time digital breaks, preventing children and teenagers from using social media during hours when they should be sleeping.

Additionally, the PP wants to restrict access to adult content and gambling platforms for minors, and introduce content labeling to help users identify the material they are viewing. Companies would have to take responsibility for enforcing these restrictions, rather than relying on individual users to monitor their screen time.

If the PP wins the election, these measures would depend on the party forming a government and passing the proposals through the legislative process. The party has previously raised similar ideas in an amendment to the parliamentary bill on protecting minors in digital environments. Other countries, such as France and Australia, have also implemented stricter rules for social media access by minors.