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Spain has announced plans to introduce legislation banning children under 16 from using some of the most popular online messaging and communication apps.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the ban during… Speech at the World Government Summit In Dubai. Although details were scarce, he said the ban could take effect next week and would be implemented through what Sanchez described as “effective age verification systems — not just checkboxes, but real barriers that work.”
The Prime Minister on Tuesday described social media as a “failed state” and blamed it Algorithms To distort the general conversation for everyone, but especially for Children online.
“Today, our children are exposed to a space they were never meant to navigate alone: a space of addiction, abuse, pornography, manipulation and violence,” Sanchez said. “We will not accept that anymore. We will protect them from the digital Wild West.”
According to Sanchez, the proposed legislation is only one part of a broader five-step process to regulate social media companies. Other proposed laws aim to hold platform executives accountable for legal violations of their sites, ban algorithmic amplification of illegal content, and implement a system to track how social media apps fuel division and encourage hate speech.
This follows a landmark law in Australia banning children under the age of 16 from using TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Snapchat, YouTube, Reddit, Kick and Twitch. It is currently unclear which platforms will be affected by the Spanish legislation, as “social media platforms” have not yet been defined under the potential new rules. It is also unknown whether platforms like Discord, WhatsApp, and Pinterest are eligible.
Sanchez was specifically criticized Tik TokAnd Instagram and X during his announcement, noting that “(his government) will work with the Attorney General to investigate and prosecute.” Legal violations committed by GrokAnd TikTok and Instagram.”
CNET has reached out to the Spanish government’s communications representative for clarification. Representatives for TikTok and Meta (which owns Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp) did not immediately respond to requests for comment. X also did not immediately respond, but CEO Elon Musk tweeted his criticism of Sanchez after the speech.
Other countries are monitoring the effects of Australia’s recent ban on social media for children under 16. Now, some countries are willing to replicate this legislation.
Previous from below: Spain follows in Australia’s footsteps
While Spain may be the first country in Europe to finalize legislation banning children from accessing social media, its ban looks very similar to its own. A new law was passed in Australia in December. In Australia, social media companies are legally responsible for removing people under the age of 16 from their services by implementing age verification technologies. Any company found to be in contempt of this law is subject to a fine of $33 million.
The mixed reaction from tech companies to Australia’s social media ban may provide insight into how they will react to a potential ban in Spain. TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat have adhered to the new rules, and have begun the process of removing violating accounts from the platform.
Reddit is backing down Challenging the law in Australia By issuing a challenge to the Supreme Court, claiming in a statement that the legislation “imposes intrusive and unsafe checks on adults as well as minors, isolating teens from the ability to engage in age-appropriate community experiences.” When the Spanish ban goes into effect, social media companies may use this precedent to issue similar challenges in the country.
In December, Denmark, Norway and Malaysia were eyeing it The spearhead of similar legislation. United Kingdom, France and Greece It may soon follow suit. The French National Assembly has already done this A draft law was passed banning those under 16 years of age From social media, but it is restricted in the country’s Senate. A similar bill is also being drafted It was discussed in the British House of Commons.
In addition, she loves countries China, Russia, north korea, Iran, India, turkey, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Uganda They have already imposed partial or complete bans on many apps – although in these cases, the bans have been largely in place Political oversight reasonswhile the Australian ban and the proposed Spanish ban cite safety concerns as the driving force behind the new law.