The harmful impact of social media on the mental health of children and adolescents has become a global issue. To address this challenge, several leading countries have recently resolved to take decisive steps by imposing strict age barriers on the use of digital platforms, driven by a desire to protect minors from the so-called “Digital Wild West.”
Spain is one of the latest countries to join Australia, France, and Denmark in this fight, planning to ban social networks for minors under the age of 16. According to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, children today spend their free time in an online space characterized by violence, pornography, and manipulation.
In addition to age restrictions, the Spanish government’s plan includes criminal liability for social media companies if they fail to promptly remove illegal content or hate speech. According to Sánchez, tech giants can no longer hide behind the veil of “technological neutrality.”
Technological neutrality is a principle stating that the state, regulators, or laws should neither favor nor restrict any specific technology.
On a global scale, Australia was the first country to officially restrict access to Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and other major platforms for children under 16 at the end of 2025. In Europe, France and Denmark are similarly planning to limit social media access for individuals under 15. At the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron, the law is expected to take effect by September 2026.
What does the science say?
The arguments of these countries are based on research confirming the negative impact of excessive screen time on adolescent identity formation and cognitive development. Notably, these studies identify digital addiction and cyberbullying as primary threats.
Indeed, according to one study, increased social media use among children and adolescents may be linked to a decline in cognitive performance. A large-scale study published in JAMA, which included 6,554 adolescents aged 9 to 13, showed that participants who spent more time on social media scored lower on tests measuring oral reading, memory, and vocabulary.
How will these restrictions be enforced?
The primary tool for enforcing these laws will be complex Age Verification systems, which will replace the simple “check-box” method of age confirmation.
Spain and five other European countries will form a coalition to coordinately combat so-called cross-border digital threats. Although tech companies call these bans ineffective and fear that adolescents will simply move to unregulated platforms, governments believe that state intervention in this field is essential to protect the mental health of the next generation.
