Numerous countries are moving to restrict social media access for children, with Australia leading the way. The U.K. is the latest to announce a ban, set for implementation by 2027.
In recent months, several nations have announced plans to limit social media access for minors, with Australia becoming the first country to enact such measures at the end of 2025. This initiative aims to set a standard that other countries are now observing closely, particularly as the U.K. has followed suit by announcing a ban on June 15, 2026.
The regulations proposed by various governments seek to address the pressures and risks associated with social media for young users. These risks encompass issues such as cyberbullying, addiction, mental health challenges, and exposure to online predators.
Concerns have arisen regarding privacy, particularly around intrusive age verification processes and the potential for excessive governmental control. Critics, including representatives from Amnesty Tech, argue that such bans may prove ineffective and fail to acknowledge the realities faced by younger generations. Despite these objections, many countries are advancing with their legislative proposals.
A list of countries that have either proposed or implemented bans on social media for minors includes the following:
Australia was the first nation to prohibit social media access for children under the age of 16, with the ban taking effect in December 2025. This legislation restricts access to platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch, and Kick. Notably, it does not include WhatsApp or YouTube Kids. The Australian government mandates that social media companies must take measures to prevent children from using their services, with non-compliance resulting in potential penalties of up to 49.5 million AUD (approximately 34.4 million USD). The government stipulates that these platforms must utilize multiple verification methods to confirm that users are older than 16, rather than relying solely on self-reported ages.
Austria announced in late March 2026 that it would ban social media access for children up to the age of 14, with draft legislation expected to be finalized by June.
In early June 2026, the Canadian government introduced a digital safety bill that would prohibit social media for children under 16. The legislation allows social media companies to bypass the ban if they can prove they have adequate measures to protect young users. Officials have indicated that the bill may take up to a year to pass.
Denmark plans to ban social media for children under 15, with the Danish government securing support for the ban from three coalition parties and two opposition parties in November 2025. The proposed law could be enacted as soon as mid-2026, and the Danish digital affairs ministry is developing a 'digital evidence' app that will include age verification tools.
In late January 2026, French lawmakers passed legislation to ban social media for children under 15, a measure backed by President Emmanuel Macron to protect children from excessive screen time. The bill still requires approval from the Senate before it can be finalized.
In early February 2026, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative party discussed a proposal to restrict social media usage for children under 16, although there are indications that coalition partners from the center-left may be reluctant to support an outright ban.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced in April 2026 that the country would implement a ban on social media for children under 15, starting in January 2027, to address rising anxiety and sleep issues among youth related to social media use.
Indonesia declared in early March 2026 that it would prohibit children under 16 from accessing social media and other popular online platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox.
The Malaysian government announced in November 2025 its intention to ban social media for children under 16, with the implementation planned for this year.
Poland's ruling party is currently drafting new legislation to restrict social media for children under 15, as reported by Bloomberg in February 2026.
Slovenia is also in the process of drafting legislation to prevent children under 15 from accessing social media, as stated by the country's deputy prime minister in early February.
In February 2026, Spain's prime minister announced plans for a ban on social media usage for children under 16, pending parliamentary approval. Additionally, the Spanish government is working on legislation to hold social media executives personally accountable for hate speech on their platforms.
The Turkish parliament passed a bill in April 2026 to limit social media access for children under 15, which requires the approval of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to become law.
In the U.K., Prime Minister Keir Starmer revealed on June 15, 2026, that his government intends to ban social media use for children under 16, affecting platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X. However, messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal will not be included in this restriction. The government also plans to impose limitations on AI tools, requiring AI 'romantic companion' chatbots to be available only to users over 18. Experts have raised questions about the effectiveness of a blanket ban, but Starmer has expressed confidence in its enforceability, aiming for implementation by spring 2027.
This article was initially published in February 2026 and is continuously updated with new developments.
