European Countries Consider Social Media Restrictions for Children

European countries are considering social media restrictions for children, following Australia's new law banning social media accounts for children under 16. As of December 10, 2023, Australian children under 16 can no longer create or maintain accounts on platforms such as Facebook, X, Threads, Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, Twitch, Reddit, and YouTube.

If these platforms violate the law, they could face penalties of up to 50 million Australian dollars, approximately 28 million dollars. In Denmark, a government agreement aims to ban access to certain social media sites for individuals under 15, with provisions allowing parents to permit access after age 13.

Danish Minister for Digital Affairs, Caroline Stage, indicated that legislation could take months to pass, while 160 million kroner, roughly 21.4 million dollars, has been allocated for child online safety initiatives.

In France, Minister of Digital Affairs, Anne Le Henanff, announced plans to introduce a bill restricting social media for those under 15 in early 2026, following a report suggesting a digital curfew for minors.

This initiative comes after seven families sued TikTok in 2024 for exposing children to harmful content. In Spain, a proposed bill would restrict social media access for those under 16 unless there is explicit parental consent, while children aged 16 to 18 could access platforms independently.

This bill is aimed at addressing risks associated with inappropriate content and digital exploitation. In Italy, a bill is under consideration to impose restrictions on children under 15 and kidfluencers on social media.

The draft requires platforms to verify user ages through a digital identity system linked to an upcoming EU age-verification framework. Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis indicated potential social media bans similar to Australia, citing concerns over the effects of social media on children.

Greece has already banned smartphones in classrooms and launched a parental control tool called Kids Wallet to help manage children's online access. Meanwhile, Germany has yet to implement under-16 restrictions but has commissioned a study on the potential impact of social media on minors, with a report expected in autumn 2026.

A petition advocating for a minimum social media age of 16 has garnered over 34,000 signatures in Germany. These developments across Europe reflect growing concerns about the impact of social media on children and the potential need for stricter regulations to safeguard minors online.