From Mashable · Shannon Connellan · · 1m 40s
Countries banning social media for kids
12 nations now restrict social media for children under 16
In brief
12 nations now restrict social media for children under 16 Social media bans for children under 16 are being implemented across 12 countries and the EU Originally reported by Mashable.
Australia sets global precedent
Australia banned social media for children under 16 in December 2025 with the Online Safety Amendment Act
“The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act requires social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, X, and Snapchat to implement age verification”
Austria follows with under-14 ban
Austria plans to ban social media for children under 14 with a new school curriculum requirement
“Austria's legislation would also add a new compulsory subject, Media and Democracy, to school curriculums to boost awareness of how to recognize disinformation and radicalization”
Brazil enforces under-16 age rule
Brazil's Digital Statute of Children and Adolescents requires age verification for social media under 16
“The law requires kids under sixteen to link their social media accounts with a legal guardian”
Canada proposes under-16 ban
Canada will ban social media accounts for children under 16 with age verification requirements
“The Safe Social Media Act will enforce age verification to access online services and legally mandated safety requirements for social media platforms”
Denmark targets under-15 age rule
Denmark plans to ban social media for children under 15 with parental flexibility options
“Parents could allow their children to use social media from the age of thirteen”
EU proposes under-13 ban
The EU plans to ban social media for children under 13 with age verification across all platforms
“The EU KIDS Act will require age verification via the EU age verification app or third-party platforms”
France enacts under-15 ban
France will ban social media for children under 15 starting September 2026
“The social media ban will block under-15s from creating new accounts as of September one, and all existing accounts will come under the law in January 2027”
Greece targets under-15 age rule
Greece plans to ban social media for children under 15 with sleep and anxiety concerns
“The measure will take effect on January one, two thousand twenty-seven, and the PM said age verification is also needed”
Indonesia bans under-16 access
Indonesia will deactivate social media accounts for children under 16 by end of March 2026
“Anyone under sixteen with an account on a high risk online platform would see it deactivated by the end of March”
Malaysia enforces under-16 rule
Malaysia banned social media for children under 16 starting June 2026
“The law requires social media companies to add age verification and prohibit kids under sixteen from creating accounts on platforms with at least eight million users”
New Zealand introduces age rule
New Zealand will prevent children under 16 from accessing social media and AI companions
“The Online Safety Bill will need to be passed into law by parliament, after which platforms will have six months to comply”
Poland considers under-15 ban
Poland plans to ban social media for children under 15 with age verification requirements
“Education Minister Barbara Nowacka announced plans on February twenty-six, two thousand twenty-six”
The one thing
Social media bans for children under 16 are being implemented across 12 countries and the EU
