Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced plans to implement a ban on social media access for children under the age of 16, requiring platforms to enforce age verification measures. This initiative, described as a response to the dangers of what he termed the “digital Wild West,” aims to protect minors from exposure to harmful content, including addiction and violence.
During a speech at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Sánchez emphasized the need for “real barriers that work” to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate material online. He also stated that executives of social media platforms could face criminal liability for failing to remove illegal or hateful content.
The new regulations are set to be enforced starting next week as part of a broader strategy to combat disinformation and manipulation on social media. Sánchez mentioned ongoing investigations into platforms like Grok, Instagram, and TikTok in this context. This announcement follows similar discussions by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer regarding social media restrictions for young users.