Governments across several continents are increasingly restricting young people’s access to social media platforms as concerns mount about the impact of online content on children’s health and safety. Measures now being implemented or proposed include national age bans, parental consent regimes, device-level restrictions and requirements that platforms or device manufacturers deploy technical means to prevent certain content reaching minors.
Key developments by country
Australia enacted a landmark law requiring major social media platforms to block users under 16 from accessing services including TikTok, YouTube and Facebook and Instagram. The prohibition takes effect from December 10, 2025, and companies that do not comply face penalties of up to A$49.5 million ($34.9 million).
Britain is preparing a broad set of measures. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on June 15 that a ban on social media for under-16s is planned to be approved by Christmas, with the measure due to take effect around Spring 2027. In addition, Starmer said on June 8 that big tech firms operating in Britain must prevent children from circulating nude images on their phones or face legislation forcing them to do so. New requirements would compel firms such as Apple and Google to build or activate technical solutions on smartphones and tablets to detect and block nude images for children, while adults would still be able to access such content through an age verification process.
China has implemented a so-called minor mode that imposes device-level restrictions and app-specific rules to limit screen time based on age.
Denmark announced in November plans to ban social media access for children under 15, while allowing parents to provide access for children aged 13 and 14.
France saw its National Assembly approve legislation in January that would bar children under 15 from social media amid concerns over online bullying and mental health risks. That bill still needs to pass through the Senate before a final vote in the lower house.
Germany currently allows minors aged 13 to 16 to use social media only with parental consent, a framework that child protection advocates have described as insufficient.
Greece was reported on February 3 as being very close to announcing a social media ban for children under 15, according to a senior government source.
India saw its chief economic adviser call for age restrictions on social media platforms in January, describing them as predatory in their techniques to keep users engaged. That statement came two days after the tourist state of Goa said it was considering restrictions similar to Australia’s.
Italy requires parental consent for children under 14 to sign up for social media accounts, with no consent needed above that age.
Malaysia has begun barring those under 16 from registering social media accounts, according to its communications regulator on June 1.
Norway proposed in 2024 raising the consent age to 15 from 13, while still permitting parents to sign on behalf of younger children. The government is also developing legislation to establish an absolute minimum age of 15 for social media use.
Poland has a ruling party initiative preparing legislation to prohibit social media access for children under 15 and to require platforms to verify age, officials said on February 27.
Slovenia is drafting a law that would ban children under 15 from accessing social media, according to Deputy Prime Minister Matej Arcon on February 6.
Spain intends to press ahead with new regulations aimed at making social networks and AI safer despite industry lobbying, Digital Transformation Minister Oscar Lopez said in May. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had previously stated in February that Spain would ban social media access for minors under 16 and require platforms to implement age verification systems.
Sweden received a recommendation from a government-appointed commission on June 2 to introduce a minimum social media age of 15. The commission indicated a ban could be designed so platforms are responsible for age verification; investigator Lisa Englund Krafft discussed the recommendation at a news conference with Social Affairs and Public Health Minister Jakob Forssmed.
Turkey enacted legislation on April 24 that bans social media use by children under 15 and establishes new rules for digital platforms, including companies that produce game software.
United Arab Emirates approved a resolution on June 18 setting the minimum age for social media use at 15, prohibiting children under that age from creating or using personal accounts and limiting their access to platforms’ full features. The UAE is the first Arab country to adopt such a measure.
United States saw movement on federal legislation after Republican Senator Ted Cruz announced on May 12 that he would support the Kids Online Safety Act. The bill would require social media companies to "exercise reasonable care" in designing features that contribute to harm to minors, according to the bill text. That proposal is distinct from the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, which bars companies from collecting personal data from children under 13 without parental consent. Several U.S. states have enacted laws requiring parental consent for minors to access social media, but those state laws have faced legal challenges on free speech grounds.
European Union initiatives
On May 12, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated the EU would pursue stronger protections for children against harmful social media features. She indicated the Commission would target addictive and harmful design practices as part of its planned Digital Fairness Act, due to be proposed later in the year, while an expert panel prepares advice. The European Parliament previously agreed in November on a resolution calling for an EU-wide ban on access for children under 16 to online platforms, video-sharing sites and AI companions without parental consent, and an outright ban for those younger than 13.
Industry position and concerns
Major social media services typically set a minimum sign-up age of 13. Child protection advocates, however, argue that those self-imposed thresholds and existing controls are inadequate. Official data in several European countries indicate that many children under 13 already have social media accounts, underscoring the difficulty of enforcement and the scale of the issue regulators are trying to address.
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Summary of policy approaches
The policy responses can be grouped into several types of actions: absolute age bans enacted by statute or resolution; parental consent models; device-level or app-level restrictions that limit screen time and features for minors; legal mandates on platforms and devices to detect and block specific types of content such as nude images involving children; and proposed laws or regulatory initiatives that would make platforms responsible for age verification and design choices deemed harmful or addictive.
These measures vary in scope and timeline. Some are already in force or have set enforceable dates, such as Australia’s law with its December 10, 2025 compliance deadline. Others remain proposals or require further legislative action, such as France’s bill pending Senate consideration, Britain’s planned timetable to take effect around Spring 2027, and EU-level proposals awaiting formal drafting and consultation.
Implementation challenges
Governments and regulators face several practical issues in implementing these rules. Age verification and the technical ability to reliably detect and block specified content are complex tasks that may require cooperation from device manufacturers and platform operators. Legal challenges, particularly in jurisdictions where free speech or privacy rights are invoked, could delay or alter state-level measures. In addition, the prevalence of underage accounts in some countries highlights enforcement difficulties and suggests that parental consent requirements alone may not prevent access.
Outlook
Across jurisdictions, the trend is toward more prescriptive rules governing how children can access online platforms and what protections are required. Several nations have already adopted firm age thresholds, while others are moving through legislative and regulatory processes to increase oversight and require technical controls. How quickly these measures will be implemented, how uniformly they will be applied across platforms and devices, and how courts will respond to potential challenges remain open questions reflected in the patchwork of current approaches.