Over the months, many countries have announced plans to restrict access to social media for children and teenagers. Australia became the first to implement such measures late last year, setting a precedent that other countries are now closely following.
Australia’s regulations, along with proposals from other countries, aim to reduce the pressures and risks young users may face on social media, such as cyberbullying, addiction, mental health issues and exposure to predators.
Of course, there are privacy concerns about invasive age verification and excessive government interference. Critics included Amnesty Techhave said such bans are ineffective and ignore the reality of younger generations. Despite this, many nations are moving forward with the proposed legislation.
We’ve put together a list of countries that are considering or have already moved to ban social media for young users.
Australia
Australia became the first country in the world to social media ban for children under 16 in December 2025. The ban prevents children from using Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch and Kick. Specifically, it doesn’t include WhatsApp or YouTube Kids.
The Australian government said these social media companies must take steps to prevent children from their services. Non-compliant companies could face penalties of up to AUD 49.5 million (US$34.4 million).
The government says these platforms will have to use multiple verification methods to ensure people using their services are over 16. He also notes that they can’t rely on users simply entering their own age.
Austria
Austria said in late March that it would social media ban for children up to 14 years old. By June, the bill for the ban is expected to be finalized.
Canada
The Canadian government introduced a digital security bill in June that would ban social media for children under 16. Under the law, social media giants could get around the ban if they can prove they have policies in place to protect young users. Officials said it could take a year to pass the bill.
Denmark
Denmark is is banned social media platforms for children under 15; The Danish government announced in November 2025 that it had secured support for the ban from three government coalition parties and two opposition parties in parliament.
The administration’s plans could become law by mid-2026, according to the Associated Press. Denmark’s Ministry of Digital Affairs is also launching a “digital evidence” app that includes age verification tools that may be used as part of the ban.
France
At the end of January, French MPs passed a bill which would ban social media for children under 15. President Emmanuel Macron has backed the measure as a way to protect children from too much screen time.
The bill still needs to pass the country’s Senate before a final vote in the Lower House.
Germany
In early February, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservatives discussed a proposal at the bar children under 16 from using social media, Reuters reported. However, there were signs that his centre-left coalition partners were reluctant to back a full ban.
Greece
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced in April that the country was going to do so banning access to social media for children under 15 from January 2027. Mitsotakis says the move is aimed at tackling increasing stress and sleep problems among children, as well as the addictive design of social media.
Indonesia
Indonesia said in early March that it is no children under 16 years old from using social media and other popular online platforms. The country plans to launch with platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox.
Malaysia
The Malaysian government said in November 2025 that it intends to do so social media ban for children under 16. The country plans to implement the ban this year.
Poland
Poland’s ruling party is working on new legislation that will no children under 15 years old from using social media, Bloomberg reported in February.
Slovenia
Slovenia is drafting legislation to ban children under 15 from accessing social media, the country’s deputy prime minister announced in early February. The government wants to regulate social networks where content is shared, citing platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram.
Spain
The Prime Minister of Spain announced in early February that the country plans to ban social media for children under 16. The ban still needs parliamentary approval. The Spanish government is also seeking to create a law that would make social media executives personally liable for hate speech on their platforms.
Turkey
The Turkish Parliament in April passed a bill to restrict access to social media for children under the age of 15; Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan must now accept the bill for it to become law.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is weighing ban on social media for children under 16. The government says it will consult parents, young people and civil society for their views to determine whether the ban would be effective.
It will also consider whether to require social media companies to limit or remove features that lead to compulsive use, such as endless scrolling.
This story was originally published in February 2026 and is regularly updated with new information.
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