Spain proposes raising social media age limit to 16

Wednesday 04 - 12:45

By: Sahili Aya

Spain proposes raising social media age limit to 16

The Spanish government plans to prohibit access to social media platforms for children under 16, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on Tuesday during the World Governments Summit in the United Arab Emirates.

Sánchez explained that the measure aims to protect minors from online risks, including pornography, violence, and manipulation. Platforms will be required to implement effective age verification systems, going beyond simple checkboxes, to ensure compliance.

The government also intends to hold tech executives legally accountable for content violations on their sites. Sánchez stressed that CEOs could face criminal liability if illegal or harmful content is not removed.

This initiative is part of a broader plan of five measures expected to be introduced next week. Although the government lacks a parliamentary majority, the move aligns with similar efforts in countries like Australia, France, and Portugal to increase online safety for children.