More Countries Move to Restrict Children’s Social Media Access

PARIS: (News Desk) – Governments around the world are increasingly moving to limit children’s access to social media, with more than 20 countries either enforcing restrictions or preparing new legislation aimed at protecting young users online.

The European Union is the latest to examine tougher rules. An expert committee is scheduled to present recommendations to the European Commission on Monday regarding a possible bloc-wide social media ban for children across the EU’s 27 member states.

Several countries have already introduced restrictions. Australia has prohibited social media access for users under 16 since December 2025, while Brazil now requires social media accounts for children under 16 to be linked to their parents and mandates age verification by platforms.

China has gradually tightened online regulations for minors since 2019, initially limiting gaming hours before extending similar restrictions to social media and streaming services in 2023. Indonesia and Malaysia have also introduced bans for users under 16, while Türkiye has approved legislation barring children under 15 from social media, with implementation expected in late 2026. The United Arab Emirates has also announced a ban for users under 15, expected to take effect within about a year.

Across Europe, several governments are preparing similar measures. Greece plans to ban social media access for children under 15 from January 2027, while Austria and Slovenia are drafting laws targeting under-14s and under-15s respectively. Germany, Sweden, Ireland, Denmark, Norway, the United Kingdom, and Canada are also considering or preparing age-based restrictions.

Elsewhere, authorities in India are discussing potential safeguards with social media platforms, while France, Portugal, Spain, and Italy are debating legislation that would introduce stricter age limits or platform restrictions for younger users.

The growing number of proposals reflects a broader international effort to strengthen online child safety and address concerns over the impact of social media on young people’s mental health, privacy, and digital well-being.