Several European countries are moving toward stricter limits on teenage access to social media, signaling a tougher stance against platforms accused of harming children’s mental health. Spain and Greece on Tuesday proposed bans that would restrict social media use by minors, joining a broader push across Europe to rein in technology companies.
Spain plans to prohibit social media access for children under 16, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said, while Greece is considering a similar ban for those under 15. The proposals follow Australia’s landmark move last year to block social media access for under-16s, intensifying global scrutiny of children’s screen time and online safety.
European governments argue that platforms are designed to be addictive and expose minors to harmful or illegal content, risks that have grown with the rise of AI-generated material. Spain also plans legislation to hold social media executives personally accountable for hate speech and algorithmic amplification of illegal content. Critics, however, warn that such measures could blur the line between child protection and censorship.
