‘We will protect them from the digital Wild West.’ Another country will ban social media for under-16s

In a significant move to protect children from the dangers of social media, Spain has announced a ban on access to these platforms for individuals under the age of 16. This initiative mandates that social media companies implement rigorous age verification measures, aligning Spain with countries like Australia, France, and Denmark that are taking similar actions to diminish the influence of digital platforms on minors. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez emphasized the urgency of this decision, stating, "Our children are exposed to a space they were never meant to navigate alone—a space rife with addiction, abuse, pornography, manipulation, and violence." He declared that the Spanish government will no longer tolerate this situation, vowing to shield children from what he described as the "digital Wild West." During his address at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Sánchez unveiled plans to introduce new legislation that holds social media executives criminally accountable for failing to eliminate illegal or hateful content from their platforms. The upcoming laws will target those who promote illegal content, including through algorithmic amplification. "We will turn algorithmic manipulation and amplification of illegal content into a new criminal offense," he stated, stressing that the propagation of hate must carry consequences. The legislative process is set to commence next week, and among the proposed measures is the creation of a "hate and polarization footprint" aimed at assessing how digital platforms contribute to societal division and the spread of hate. Australia has already set a precedent as the first nation to enforce a social media ban for users under 16, restricting access to ten major platforms including Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and X. Meanwhile, Britain is considering similar regulations, and both France and Denmark have recently initiated steps to restrict access for those under 15. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed a desire to expedite the legal framework to ensure that the ban is effective before the new school year begins in September. Sánchez also highlighted Spain's collaboration with five other European nations committed to enforcing stricter and more efficient regulations on social media. While he did not disclose the identities of these countries, he mentioned that the group will convene soon to discuss coordinated enforcement measures across borders, asserting, "This is a battle that far exceeds the boundaries of any country."