Over the past few months, several countries have announced plans to either ban or restrict access to social media for children and teenagers. Australia was the first country in the world to impose a ban restricting social media use for children under 16 at the end of 2025.
However, many other countries have either prepared similar plans or proposed new measures. The purpose of these bans is to protect children and teenagers from mental health disorders and other related issues.
Here are the countries where restricting or banning children’s access to social media is under consideration or has already been implemented:
Australia
In December 2025, Australia imposed a ban on social media use for children under 16. Under this restriction, platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube and Reddit were blocked for children. However, WhatsApp and YouTube Kids were not included in the ban.
The Australian government stated that any social media company failing to comply with the restriction could face a fine of $34.4 million. The government also said platforms must use various methods to verify users ages rather than relying solely on the age entered by users.
Denmark
Denmark is moving toward banning social media use for children under 15. In November 2025, the government announced that three coalition parties and two opposition parties had united in support of the measure. The legislation is expected to be presented in mid-2026 and work is underway to introduce an age-verification app.
France
In January 2026, the French Parliament approved a bill to block social media access for children under 15. France’s president supported the bill stating that it would help keep children away from excessive screen use. The bill will now be presented to the upper house before returning to the lower house for final approval.
Germany
In early February 2026, the German Chancellor’s party began consultations on a proposal to ban social media use for children under 16. However, it is unclear whether it will be approved as coalition partners are hesitant to support a complete ban.
Greece
In early February 2026, a media report stated that Greece would soon announce a ban on social media use for children under 15.
Malaysia
In November 2025, Malaysia’s government announced plans to ban social media use for children under 16. The restriction is expected to be implemented sometime this year.
Slovenia
Slovenia has drafted legislation on the issue. The announcement was made by the country’s Deputy Prime Minister in early February 2026. The government is also planning to regulate content shared on platforms.
Spain
In February 2026, Spain’s government announced plans to ban social media use for children under 16. The bill must be approved by Parliament. The government is also considering legislation that would allow legal action against executives of social media companies over the spread of hate content.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is also considering ending social media access for children under 16. The government is currently consulting with stakeholders on the matter.
