Global Push to Curb Children's Social Media Access Gains Momentum (2026-08-24)

Governments across the globe are taking steps to restrict children's access to social media, responding to growing concerns about online safety, mental health, and the impact of addictive platform design.

Australia set a global precedent in December 2025 by becoming the first country to ban social media for children under 16. The law requires major platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook to block minors, with non-compliance penalties reaching up to A$49.5 million.

In Europe, several nations are moving in similar directions. Britain's government has announced plans to approve a ban for under-16s by Christmas, with implementation expected around spring 2027. The UK is also pushing tech firms to automatically block nude images for children or face legislation. France's top court, however, recently blocked a bill banning under-15s, citing freedom of expression concerns. Germany allows minors aged 13-16 to use social media only with parental consent, while Italy requires consent for those under 14. Norway has proposed raising the consent age to 15 and is working on an absolute minimum age limit. Poland, Slovenia, and Sweden are also preparing or recommending bans or age limits for minors under 15. Greece has indicated it is close to announcing a ban for children under 15.

Asia is also taking action. China's "minor mode" programme imposes device-level restrictions and app-specific screen time limits. Malaysia has begun barring those under 16 from registering accounts. India's chief economic adviser has called for age restrictions, describing platforms as "predatory." New Zealand's Prime Minister has proposed a ban for under-16s, with fines of up to 10% of a platform's global revenue for non-compliance. Turkey has passed legislation banning social media use for children under 15.

In the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates became the first Arab country to set a minimum age of 15 for social media use. In the United States, the Kids Online Safety Act has cleared a key political hurdle, aiming to require social media companies to exercise "reasonable care" in designing features that could harm minors.

At the EU level, the European Commission has said it will target "addictive and harmful design practices" in its upcoming Digital Fairness Act. The European Parliament has also passed a resolution calling for an EU-wide ban on access for children under 16 without parental consent.

While platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Snapchat currently require users to be at least 13, child protection advocates argue these controls are insufficient, noting that official data shows many children under 13 have accounts. The global regulatory landscape is rapidly evolving as governments seek to balance child safety with concerns over free speech and industry lobbying.