Spain has made a historic decision to block anyone under 16 from using social media. The goal is to protect kids from online dangers like hate speech and false information. At the World Government Summit in Dubai on February 3, 2026, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez talked about the policy. He called social media a “failed state” and a “digital Wild West.”
Platforms must implement strict age-verification systems beyond simple checkboxes, with the ban set to start next week. This is similar to Australia’s ban on kids under 16 and fits with Spain’s push for digital safety across the EU. Sánchez said that tech companies like TikTok, X, and Instagram don’t do a good job of moderating content and protecting users.
Additional measures include a “hate and polarization footprint” to track divisive content and criminal charges for executives who fail to remove illegal material. Promoting hate or crime through algorithms will be a new crime, making sure that people are held responsible.
The move has caused a lot of discussion, with privacy advocates saying that requiring ID or biometric checks could put all users’ data at risk. Greece is thinking about a similar ban, which shows that European countries are starting to limit teens’ use of social media. Supporters of child protection efforts say they are good, but critics say they don’t solve the real problems and make it harder for people to get help.
