Portugal’s parliament has approved, in its first reading, a bill requiring explicit parental consent for children aged 13 to 16 to access social media platforms. The move marks one of the first concrete legislative steps in Europe to formally restrict minors’ use of digital platforms through enforceable consent mechanisms.
The draft law was introduced by the ruling Social Democratic Party, which argues the measure is necessary to protect children from cyberbullying, harmful content, and online predators. Under the proposal, parents would use a system known as the Digital Mobile Key to grant authorization. The mechanism would also help enforce Portugal’s existing ban preventing children under 13 from accessing social media, video- and image-sharing platforms, and online betting sites.
The bill may still be amended before a final vote. Portugal joins a growing number of countries tightening oversight of minors’ online activity. France’s lower house recently backed legislation to prohibit social media use for children under 15, while Australia implemented a nationwide ban for under-16s in December, covering platforms such as Meta Platforms’ Facebook, Snap’s Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.
The proposal highlights ongoing global debates over balancing child safety, digital rights, and the responsibilities of technology companies in verifying user age and moderating content.
