Governments across Europe are moving to tighten rules on children’s use of social media, citing concerns about addiction, exposure to harmful content and the impact of digital platforms on young people’s mental health.
A growing number of European countries are considering or introducing restrictions aimed at limiting minors’ access to social media or reducing their screen time, as policymakers respond to mounting concerns from parents, educators and health experts.
In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said families remain concerned about children’s safety online and called social media company representatives for talks.
Starmer told social media executives during a meeting at Downing Street focused on children’s online safety that “things cannot go on like this.”
The UK government is also considering a ban on social media use for children under 16.
At the European Union level, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said a new digital age-verification application designed to improve children’s online safety is technically ready and will be launched soon.
Von der Leyen also warned that many platforms use highly addictive design features, including the so-called “infinite scroll,” which she said contributes to excessive use among young people.
Several European governments have already proposed or announced concrete measures.
In Greece, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said social media use by children under 15 will be banned starting Jan. 1, 2027. He cited consultations with parents and experts indicating that many children are experiencing stress, sleep problems and excessive screen exposure linked to smartphone use.
In Finland, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and the Finnish National Agency for Education have recommended that children under 13 should not have their own smartphones or be allowed to use social media.
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has also expressed support for banning social media use among children under 15, citing concerns about declining physical activity and reduced participation in hobbies among young people.
The Swedish government has said it plans to ban mobile phones in primary and lower secondary schools to help students concentrate during lessons.
In Denmark, the government is working on proposals that could ban social media platforms for children under 15. Authorities said in November 2025 that the initiative secured backing from three coalition parties and two opposition parties in parliament.
Denmark’s Ministry of Digital Affairs is expected to introduce an application that includes age-verification tools as part of the planned restrictions.
In Norway, the government has launched a public consultation on proposed legislation that would ban social media use for children under 15. Platforms primarily used for communication related to video games or school and extracurricular activities would be excluded from the proposal.
In France, the Senate approved legislation introducing a conditional social media ban for children under 15. The law would allow authorities to restrict platforms considered harmful to minors’ physical, mental and moral development and require companies to verify users’ ages.
Poland is also preparing measures aimed at reducing screen time among children. Education Minister Barbara Nowacka said students under 16 will be banned from using mobile phones in schools beginning Sept. 1.
In Germany, a government-appointed commission examining the protection of children and young people in the digital environment is expected to present recommendations this year on issues including age limits for social media use and possible mobile phone bans in schools.
German Federal Minister for Digital and Government Modernization Karsten Wildberger has said he is open to introducing minimum age requirements for children’s access to social media, citing concerns about the platforms’ effects on youth development.
In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced plans to ban access to social networking platforms for children under 16 while strengthening oversight of digital platforms and holding their operators legally responsible for violations.
The Spanish government is also preparing legislation that would allow prosecutors to investigate violations committed on digital platforms.
Portugal has taken initial steps toward banning social networking sites for children under 13 while allowing users aged 13 to 16 to access them only with parental or teacher permission.
A bill introduced by the governing Social Democratic Party has been approved in parliament and sent to a committee for further review. The proposal also foresees fines of up to €2 million for companies that fail to comply.
Elsewhere, coalition partners in Austria have agreed in principle on banning social media use for children under 14.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis has voiced support for restricting social media access for children under 15 in Czechia.
In Slovenia, the government is drafting legislation that would restrict social media use among children under 15, targeting platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram.
Across the Baltic region, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are also considering tighter restrictions, particularly in schools. Estonia and Lithuania have focused on aligning with the EU’s minimum age standard of 13, while proposals to limit access for children under 15 are being discussed in Latvia.
Meanwhile, Italy is also working on legislation that would ban social media use for children under 15, with the proposal expected to be finalized and voted on in parliament in the coming months.
Lawmakers in the European Parliament have adopted a non-binding resolution calling for stronger protections for minors online, including a default minimum age of 16 for access to social media platforms, video-sharing services and AI-based digital tools.
Under the proposal, children aged 13 to 16 would only be allowed to access such services with parental consent, while those under 13 would be fully restricted.
Outside Europe, Australia became the first country to ban social media platforms for children under 16 in December 2025.
*Writing by Beril Canakci
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