Key facts
- Australia banned social media for children under 16, with penalties up to A$49.5 million for non-compliance.
- Britain plans to ban social media for under-16s by Spring 2027 and requires tech firms to block nude images for children.
- China, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Malaysia, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and the UAE have implemented or are planning various age restrictions and parental consent requirements for social media use.
- The U.S. Kids Online Safety Act is moving forward, requiring social media companies to exercise reasonable care in designing features that protect minors.
- The European Union is proposing a 'Digital Fairness Act' to target addictive and harmful design practices on social media.
Governments worldwide are enacting or considering measures to restrict children's access to social media platforms, driven by growing concerns over mental health, online bullying, and exploitation. Australia has taken the lead with a comprehensive ban for those under 16, setting a precedent for other nations.
In Britain, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans for a ban on social media for under-16s by Christmas, with legislation expected by Spring 2027. The government also intends to compel tech firms like Apple and Google to implement features that detect and block nude images for minors, while allowing adults to share such content through age verification.
China has implemented a 'minor mode' that restricts screen time based on age, while Denmark plans a ban for under-15s, with parental consent allowed for ages 13 and up. France has approved legislation to ban children under 15 from social media, pending Senate approval. Germany permits social media use for 13-16 year olds with parental consent, though advocates deem current controls insufficient.
Greece is nearing an announcement of a ban for under-15s. India's chief economic adviser has called social media platforms 'predatory,' and the state of Goa is considering restrictions. Italy requires parental consent for social media accounts for those under 14. Malaysia has begun barring under-16s from registering accounts.
Norway proposed raising the age of consent for social media to 15, with parents able to consent for younger children. Poland is preparing legislation to ban social media for under-15s and enforce age verification. Slovenia is drafting a law to prohibit children under 15 from social media access.
Spain will implement new rules for social networks and AI, including a ban on social media for minors under 16 with mandatory age verification. Sweden recommended a minimum age of 15 for social media use, with platforms responsible for verification. Turkey passed legislation banning social media for children under 15.
The United Arab Emirates approved a resolution setting the minimum age for social media use at 15, prohibiting account creation and restricting full features for those under this age. In the United States, the Kids Online Safety Act, requiring social media companies to exercise reasonable care in protecting minors, has advanced. This is separate from the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.
On the EU level, the European Commission plans a 'Digital Fairness Act' to address addictive and harmful design practices. The European Parliament has previously called for an EU-wide ban on access for children under 16 without parental consent, and an outright ban for those younger than 13. Tech platforms generally require users to be at least 13, a threshold child protection advocates find insufficient.