Madrid: Spain has planned to ban social media use for children under the age of 16, becoming the latest European country to push for tougher online safety regulations for minors.
Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the government would act decisively to shield young people from what he described as the ‘digital Wild West’. Sánchez stated that, “We will protect them,” warning that social media platforms expose children to addiction, abuse, pornography, manipulation and violence.
Social media has become a failed state.
If we want to protect our children there is only one thing we can do: take back control.
Las redes sociales se han convertido en un Estado fallido.
Si queremos proteger a nuestros hijos, solo tenemos una opción: recuperar el control. pic.twitter.com/1MvCNxiLys
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) February 3, 2026
The proposed ban, which still requires parliamentary approval, forms part of a wider package of digital reforms. These include holding company executives legally responsible for illegal or harmful content published on their platforms and criminalising the manipulation of algorithms that amplify unlawful material.
Under the plan, social media companies would be required to introduce robust age-verification systems. Sánchez stressed that these must go beyond basic self-declaration methods, saying they should involve real barriers that work, a likely reference to loopholes that have undermined similar measures elsewhere.
Spain’s move follows Australia, which became the first country in the world to implement a nationwide social media ban for under-16s last year. Several countries are now closely watching the outcome of Australia’s approach. France, Denmark and Austria have all announced they are considering national age limits, while the UK government has launched a consultation on whether to introduce a similar ban.
Social media companies, however, argue that such bans are ineffective, difficult to enforce and risk isolating vulnerable teenagers. Reddit is currently challenging Australia’s legislation in the High Court. Alongside age restrictions, Spain’s proposed laws would also target the role of algorithms in spreading disinformation and hate. Sánchez said the government would no longer accept claims that technology is neutral.
The reforms would also introduce a new system to monitor how digital platforms contribute to social division and the spread of hate, although no further details were provided. Sánchez further announced plans to investigate and prosecute alleged crimes linked to platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Grok, the AI tool developed by X.
The European Commission and UK authorities have already launched investigations into Grok, while French prosecutors this week raided X’s offices in Paris over allegations including unlawful data extraction and complicity in the possession of child sexual abuse material.
X has yet to respond to the latest investigations and has previously described the French probe as an attack on free speech. Sánchez said he hopes to pass the legislation next week, though the effort may face hurdles as his left-wing coalition government does not hold a parliamentary majority. Spain’s main opposition People’s Party has expressed support for similar restrictions in the past, while the far-right Vox party has opposed the measures.
Reacting to the announcement, X owner Elon Musk labelled Sánchez a ‘tyrant and traitor to the people of Spain’. France has been at the forefront of the European push for stricter controls, with President Emmanuel Macron calling for a ban on social media for under-15s by the start of the next school year in September.
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