Countries Tighten Social Media Bans for Children

Governments worldwide are tightening social media restrictions for children as concerns grow over online safety, mental health, addictive features and exposure to harmful content.

Australia became the first country to impose a nationwide social media ban for children under 16, requiring major platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook to block younger users from December 10, 2025. Companies that violate the rules face penalties of up to A$49.5 million ($34.9 million).

Britain is also moving toward an under-16 social media ban, expected to take effect around spring 2027. Its proposals include stronger protections against children sharing nude images, potentially requiring technology companies such as Apple and Google to introduce detection and blocking tools on devices.

Other governments are pursuing similar measures. Denmark plans to prohibit social media use for children under 15, although parents could authorize access from age 13. Malaysia has begun preventing under-16s from registering social media accounts, while Turkey has passed legislation banning access for children younger than 15.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has proposed an under-16 ban backed by penalties reaching 10% of a platform's global revenue. Platforms would be responsible for age verification using methods including account data, facial technology and digital identity documents.

Spain plans to prohibit social media access for minors under 16, while Poland and Slovenia are preparing bans for children under 15. Norway is working toward an absolute minimum age of 15, and Sweden has received a government-commission recommendation for the same threshold. The United Arab Emirates has already approved a minimum social media age of 15.

France, however, encountered legal resistance after its top court blocked an under-15 ban in August on freedom-of-expression grounds.

The European Union is separately considering stronger child protections targeting addictive and harmful platform designs. The European Parliament has supported restricting access for under-16s without parental consent and banning access entirely for children under 13.

In the United States, lawmakers are advancing the Kids Online Safety Act, which would require platforms to exercise greater care when designing features that could harm minors.

TikTok, Facebook and Snapchat already set a minimum signup age of 13, but child-safety advocates argue existing age controls remain too easy to bypass.