Ireland, India and UK move toward social media age limits

Wednesday 18 February 2026 - 12:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Ireland, India and UK move toward social media age limits

Governments across Europe and Asia are preparing to tighten restrictions on minors’ access to social media, drawing momentum from Australia’s landmark ban that has led to the removal of 4.7 million accounts belonging to users under 16 since December.

Ireland’s Cabinet is expected to confirm plans for age based limits as part of a new Digital and AI Strategy, according to RTÉ. The proposal would prioritize legislation restricting social media access for those under 16. The move comes as Ireland holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union. While Dublin has indicated a preference for coordinated action at the European level, officials have signaled they are prepared to proceed unilaterally if necessary. Digital Rights Ireland has criticized the approach, with its chair TJ McIntyre describing the plans as concerning due to what he said was a lack of consultation and insufficient evidence.

India has also entered the debate. Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said Tuesday that the government is in active discussions with social media companies about implementing age based restrictions. Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, Vaishnaw said age regulation is increasingly accepted internationally. He also called for stronger oversight of deepfakes, describing them as a growing problem. India’s discussions are taking place within the framework of its Digital Personal Data Protection Act, which already contains provisions aimed at safeguarding young users.

In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has set a timeline of a few months to introduce age limits on social media platforms, signaling a willingness to confront major technology companies. In a recent post on Substack, Starmer said that if a confrontation with social media giants was required, it would be pursued. A public consultation on new protective measures is scheduled for March.

Elsewhere in Europe, Slovenia has announced plans to ban social media access for children under 15, with Deputy Prime Minister Matej Arčon stating the government was acting in the interest of children’s welfare. Greece is reported to be close to unveiling a similar prohibition for those under 15, while Spain has proposed restrictions for users under 16. France’s National Assembly approved a ban on social media for children under 15 in January.

Australia’s legislation, which took effect on December 10, 2025, has become a reference point for policymakers worldwide. Communications Minister Anika Wells described the removal of 4.7 million underage accounts in the first weeks as a significant achievement. Meta said it had deleted around 550,000 accounts across Instagram, Facebook and Threads in response to the law.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the measure was pioneering on a global scale and is now influencing policy discussions in multiple countries.