Governments across Australia, Europe, Asia and the Middle East are moving to restrict children’s access to social media, as concerns mount over the impact of online platforms on young people’s safety, mental health and wellbeing. The growing regulatory push comes as countries grapple with questions over age verification, addictive platform features, online bullying and the responsibility of technology companies to protect minors.
Australia has emerged as the most prominent example of a government taking a sweeping approach. The country became the first in the world to introduce a broad ban on social media use by children under 16, with the restrictions coming into force on December 10, 2025. Major platforms, including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook, are required to prevent under-16 users from maintaining accounts. Companies that fail to comply can face penalties of up to A$49.5 million.
The Australian move has prompted other governments to consider similar measures, although approaches differ from country to country. Britain is preparing to approve restrictions that would prevent children under 16 from using social media, with the proposed rules expected to take effect around spring 2027. The British government has also announced plans requiring technology companies to do more to prevent children from circulating sexually explicit images through smartphones and tablets.
Several European countries are pursuing their own restrictions. Denmark has announced plans to prevent children under 15 from using social media, while allowing parents to give permission for certain platforms to children from the age of 13. In France, parliament had approved legislation aimed at banning social media access for under-15s amid concerns about cyberbullying and mental health, although the country’s top court later blocked the measure, citing concerns over freedom of expression.
Germany currently allows children between 13 and 16 to use social media with parental consent, but child-protection groups have argued that existing safeguards are inadequate. Greece is also considering a ban for children under 15, while Italy requires parental consent for children below 14 to open social media accounts.
Other European governments are moving towards tougher age limits. Norway is working on legislation to establish an absolute minimum age of 15 for social media use. Poland is preparing legislation to restrict social media access for children under 15 and make platforms responsible for verifying users’ ages. Slovenia is also drafting a similar law. Spain has announced plans to restrict social media access for those under 16 and require platforms to introduce age-verification mechanisms, while a government-appointed commission in Sweden has recommended a minimum age of 15.
Outside Europe, the regulatory push is also gathering pace. Malaysia has begun preventing people under 16 from registering accounts on social media platforms. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has proposed legislation to prohibit children under 16 from using social media, with platforms potentially facing fines amounting to as much as 10% of their global revenue if they fail to comply. The proposed system would require companies to take reasonable steps to verify users’ ages through methods such as facial technology and digital identity documents.
The United Arab Emirates has also approved a minimum age of 15 for social media use, making it the first Arab country to introduce such a restriction. Under the resolution, children below 15 would be prohibited from creating or using personal social media accounts and would face restrictions on access to certain platform features.
China has adopted a different approach by introducing a so-called “minor mode” that places restrictions at the device and application levels. The system can limit screen time and regulate access depending on a child’s age.
In India, the debate over age restrictions has also gained momentum. The country’s chief economic adviser called for restrictions on social media use by children earlier this year, while Goa had separately considered measures modelled on Australia’s approach.
The United States is taking a combination of legal and regulatory approaches. Meta has agreed to pay up to $18 billion to settle claims brought by nearly all US states alleging that Facebook and Instagram were designed in ways that encouraged addiction among young users. The agreement also introduces stricter controls on how teenagers use the platforms. Separately, proposed US legislation would require social media companies to exercise greater care when designing features that could harm minors.
At the European Union level, policymakers are also examining broader restrictions. The European Commission has said it plans to target addictive and harmful design practices through its proposed Digital Fairness Act. The European Parliament has previously backed an EU-wide approach that would restrict access to online platforms, video-sharing services and AI companions for children under 16 without parental consent, while proposing a complete ban for those below 13.
Technology companies generally set 13 as the minimum age for opening accounts on major platforms, but child-protection advocates argue that these safeguards are not enough. Official data from several European countries has indicated that large numbers of children below 13 continue to maintain social media accounts.
The international debate is therefore shifting from simply asking whether children should have access to social media to determining how platforms should verify ages and limit potentially harmful features. Governments are increasingly focusing on addictive design, excessive screen time, algorithm-driven content and online safety, while technology companies face growing pressure to demonstrate that their platforms can protect younger users.
