- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced plans to ban social media access for children under 16
- Platforms will be required to implement age verification systems to enforce the restriction
- The government plans to introduce a bill next week to hold social media executives accountable for illegal and harmful content
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced plans to restrict social media access for children under 16.
Speaking on Tuesday, February 3, at the World Government Summit in Dubai, Sánchez said that platforms will be required to implement age verification systems.
“Our children are exposed to a space they were never meant to navigate alone… We will no longer accept that,” he said. “We will protect them from the digital Wild West.”
He added that the government intends to introduce a new bill next week to hold social media executives accountable for illegal and harmful content.
The announcement follows Australia’s December decision to ban social media for children under 16 and is being closely watched by other countries, including Britain and France, which are considering similar age-based restrictions.
