Finance
Spain to ban social media access for under-16s, PM Sanchez says
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on February 3, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 3, 2026
Quick Summary
Spain will ban social media access for children under 16, requiring age verification. The move follows Australia's similar ban and is watched by other countries.
Spain's Prime Minister Proposes Social Media Ban for Minors Under 16
Spain's New Social Media Regulations
MADRID, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Spain plans to ban access to social media for minors under 16 and platforms will be required to implement age-verification systems, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Tuesday as he announced several measures to guarantee a safe digital environment.
Government's Concerns About Digital Safety
Sanchez's left-wing coalition government has repeatedly complained about the proliferation of hate speech, pornographic content and disinformation on social media, saying it had negative effects on young people.
Coalition of the Digitally Willing
"Our children are exposed to a space they were never meant to navigate alone... We will no longer accept that," Sanchez said as he addressed the World Government Summit in Dubai, calling on other European countries to implement similar measures.
Legislative Measures Against Hate Speech
"We will protect them from the digital Wild West," he added.
Australia in December became the first country to ban social media for children under 16, a move being closely watched by other countries considering similar age-based measures, such as Britain and France.
Sanchez said Spain had joined five other European countries that he dubbed the "Coalition of the Digitally Willing” to coordinate and enforce cross-border regulation.
The coalition will hold its first meeting in the coming days, he said. Sanchez did not say which countries were in the group, and his office didn't immediately respond to a request for clarification.
"We know that this is a battle that far exceeds the boundaries of any country," he said.
Spain will also introduce a bill next week to hold social media executives accountable for illegal and hate-speech content, as well as to criminalise algorithmic manipulation and the amplification of illegal content, Sanchez said.
Among the measures he proposed was a system to track hate speech online while platforms would be required to introduce age verification systems that "were not just check boxes", he said.
His government would begin the process of passing legislation from as early as next week, he said.
He added that prosecutors would explore ways to investigate possible legal infractions by Elon Musk's Grok, TikTok and Instagram.
(Reporting by David Latona, Emma Pinedo and Victoria Waldersee; writing by Charlie Devereux; editing by Hugh Lawson)
Key Takeaways
- •Spain will ban social media access for children under 16.
- •Age verification systems will be required on platforms.
- •Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the regulation.
- •The move follows Australia's similar ban in December.
- •Other countries like Britain and France are considering similar measures.
Frequently Asked Questions about Spain to ban social media access for under-16s, PM Sanchez says
1What is social media accountability?
Social media accountability refers to the responsibility of social media platforms and their executives to manage and control the content shared on their platforms, ensuring it complies with legal standards and does not promote illegal or harmful activities.
2What is harmful content?
Harmful content includes any material that can cause physical, emotional, or psychological harm to individuals or groups. This can encompass hate speech, misinformation, and any illegal activities promoted through social media.
3What is legislation?
Legislation is a law or a set of laws enacted by a governing body, such as a parliament or congress, that regulates specific activities or behaviors within a jurisdiction.
4What is compliance?
Compliance refers to the process of adhering to laws, regulations, guidelines, and specifications relevant to an organization's business processes. It ensures that companies operate within legal frameworks.
