Two children back to back using smartphones on a vibrant purple background.

Countries Move to Restrict Social Media Access for Children

GDANSK — August 14, 2026

Australia became the first country to impose a nationwide social media ban on children under 16, and a growing number of governments are now considering similar restrictions as concerns increase over children's online safety and wellbeing.

The measures vary widely. Some countries are setting minimum ages for social media accounts, while others are requiring parental approval, stronger age verification or changes to platform design. Australia’s restrictions cover major services including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook, with companies facing penalties of up to A$49.5 million for failing to comply.

Britain is preparing legislation that would prevent children under 16 from using social media, with the government aiming for approval by Christmas and implementation around spring 2027. Former Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also called for technology companies to prevent children from circulating nude images on smartphones and tablets.

Under the proposed British rules, companies such as Apple and Google would be expected to provide technology that can identify and block such images for children. Adults would retain access to the content through age-verification measures.

Several European countries are pursuing different approaches. Denmark has announced plans for a minimum age of 15, while parents could allow some children to use selected platforms from age 13. In Germany, children aged 13 to 16 can use social media with parental consent.

France has taken a different path after its highest court rejected legislation that would have banned social media access for children under 15. The court ruled on August 14 that the measure interfered with freedom of expression. French lawmakers had approved the proposal in July amid concerns about cyberbullying and mental health.

Greece is considering a ban for children under 15, while Poland and Slovenia are preparing legislation aimed at restricting social media access for children below that age. Sweden has also received a government-backed recommendation to establish a minimum age of 15, with platforms potentially made responsible for verifying users' ages.

Spain has said it will strengthen online safety rules, with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez previously announcing plans to restrict social media access for minors under 16 and require platforms to verify users' ages. Italy already requires parental consent for children under 14 to create social media accounts.

Outside Europe, China has introduced a system known as "minor mode", which uses device and application controls to limit children's screen time according to their age. Malaysia has begun preventing people under 16 from registering social media accounts, while Turkey's parliament has approved legislation banning social media use for children under 15.

The United Arab Emirates approved a minimum social media age of 15 on June 18, becoming the first Arab country to introduce such a measure. Children below that age will not be allowed to create or use personal accounts and will have restricted access to platform features.

In India, the chief economic adviser has called for age restrictions, while authorities in the state of Goa have considered measures similar to Australia's approach. Norway is also working on legislation that would establish 15 as the minimum age for social media use, although parents could still provide consent for younger children under some proposals.

In the United States, lawmakers are considering stronger requirements for social media companies to protect children and teenagers. Several states have already introduced parental-consent laws, but some have faced legal challenges based on freedom of speech concerns.

The proposed US Kids Online Safety Act would require social media companies to take reasonable steps to reduce features that could contribute to harm to minors. The measure is separate from existing privacy rules that restrict companies from collecting personal information from children under 13 without parental consent.

The European Union is also considering broader measures. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said the bloc will seek stronger safeguards against harmful and addictive design features as part of planned digital legislation. The European Parliament has separately supported an EU-wide minimum age of 16 for access to online platforms, video-sharing services and AI companions without parental consent, with a complete ban proposed for children under 13.

Technology companies generally set 13 as the minimum age for creating accounts on major social media services. Child protection groups, however, argue that these limits are not adequately enforced, pointing to data showing that many children below 13 already use social media.

As more governments consider age restrictions, the debate is increasingly focused on how platforms can verify users' ages while protecting privacy and freedom of expression. The different approaches being developed around the world could shape how children access social media in the years ahead.