In recent months, there has been a growing trend among countries to consider implementing restrictions on social media access for children and teenagers. Australia led the way by becoming the first country to enact such measures at the end of last year, prompting other nations to closely observe and potentially follow suit.
The motivation behind these regulations, as outlined by Australia and other countries, is to mitigate the various pressures and risks that young users may encounter on social media platforms. These risks include cyberbullying, addiction, mental health issues, and exposure to online predators.
While the intent behind these bans is to safeguard the well-being of young users, there are legitimate concerns regarding privacy implications, invasive age verification processes, and the extent of government intervention in regulating online activities. Organizations like Amnesty Tech have criticized these bans as ineffective and out of touch with the realities faced by younger generations. Despite these criticisms, several nations are forging ahead with proposed legislation to restrict social media access for minors.
Here is a rundown of countries that are either contemplating or have already taken steps to implement bans on social media for young users:
Australia:
Australia made headlines by becoming the first country to ban social media for children under the age of 16 in December 2025. The ban encompasses popular platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, and others, while exempting WhatsApp and YouTube Kids. The Australian government has mandated that social media companies implement stringent age verification measures to prevent underage users from accessing their services, with penalties of up to $49.5 million AUD for non-compliance.
Denmark:
Denmark is on track to ban social media platforms for children under 15, with support secured from multiple political parties in parliament. The Danish government aims to pass this legislation by mid-2026 and is developing a “digital evidence” app with age verification tools to enforce the ban effectively.
France:
French lawmakers recently passed a bill to prohibit children under 15 from using social media, with President Emmanuel Macron endorsing the measure to curb excessive screen time for minors. The bill awaits approval from the country’s Senate before being enacted into law.
Germany:
Germany’s government deliberated on a proposal to restrict social media usage for children under 16, although coalition partners expressed reservations about implementing an outright ban.
Greece:
Greece is reportedly close to announcing a ban on social media for children under 15, signaling a growing global trend towards regulating minors’ online activities.
Indonesia:
Indonesia announced plans to ban children under 16 from accessing platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and others to safeguard young users from potential online harms.
Malaysia:
Malaysia intends to enforce a ban on social media for children under 16, with implementation slated for the current year to protect minors from digital risks.
Slovenia:
Slovenia is drafting legislation to prohibit children under 15 from using social media, citing concerns over content sharing platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram.
Spain:
Spain’s government is considering a ban on social media for children under 16 and exploring measures to hold social media executives accountable for hate speech on their platforms.
UK:
The United Kingdom is exploring the possibility of banning social media for children under 16, seeking input from parents, young people, and civil society to assess the effectiveness of such a measure while also considering regulations to limit addictive features on social media platforms.
As countries around the world grapple with the challenges posed by social media use among minors, the debate over balancing online safety with individual freedoms and privacy rights continues to evolve. It remains to be seen how these proposed bans will be implemented and their impact on young users in the digital age.
