New restrictions on under‑16s and potential legal liability for platform executives signal a tougher European stance on online safety.
Spain and Greece have become the latest European countries to propose bans on social media use by teenagers, as policymakers across the region reassess the impact of digital platforms on children’s wellbeing.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the government intends to prohibit social media access for under‑16s, earlier this week.
A senior Greek government official confirmed that Greece is preparing a similar ban for children under 15.
The proposals follow Australia’s decision in December 2025 to bar under‑16s from social platforms – the first national ban of its kind – and mirror ongoing legislative efforts in France and the UK.
Spain plans legal accountability for platform executives
Alongside the age restrictions, Sánchez said Spain will introduce legislation that would make social media executives personally responsible for hate speech hosted on their platforms.
The government also plans to explore potential legal infractions related to AI‑generated content, including activity linked to Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot, TikTok and Instagram.
Sánchez framed the measures as part of a broader effort to protect children from what he described as the “digital wild west,” adding that Spain will join five other European countries in a new ‘Coalition of the Digitally Willing’ to co-ordinate cross‑border regulation.
Musk responds with criticism on X
Elon Musk, owner of X, reacted strongly to the proposals, posting a series of personal attacks on Sánchez and accusing him of authoritarianism. The Spanish government did not respond to the comments.
Major platforms including Google, TikTok, Snapchat and Meta did not immediately comment on the proposals.
Nevertheless, support for age‑based restrictions appears strong in Spain.
An Ipsos poll across 30 countries last year found 82% of Spaniards believed children under 14 should be banned from social media, up from 73% in 2024.
Enforcement challenges remain
Australia’s early experience highlights the complexity of enforcement.
The country’s regulator said nearly five million teen accounts were deactivated within weeks of its ban taking effect, but platforms have warned that age‑verification technology remains limited and young users may migrate to unregulated messaging apps.
Spain’s proposed ban will be incorporated into an existing bill on digital protection for minors currently progressing through parliament.
