Sept 17 (Reuters) - Countries across the globe are pushing to curb minors' use of social media platforms including TikTok, Alphabet's YouTube and Meta's Instagram and Facebook, amid mounting concerns over the impact of social media on children's health and safety.
Australia last year became the first country to ban social media for under-16s, with many others following in 2026. The European Commission was the latest to propose such a ban for children under 13.
Below is a summary of implemented and
proposed restrictions divided by country/region in alphabetical order:
PASSED LEGISLATION
AUSTRALIA
A landmark law forced major social media platforms to block under-16s from December 2025. Companies that fail to comply could face penalties of up to A$49.5 million ($35.2 million).
CANADA
The government introduced a digital safety bill in June that would ban social media for those under 16, with exemptions for platforms that meet certain safety standards.
GREECE
Greece banned social media access for children under 15 in April. Platforms will need to be able to restrict users or face fines from January 1, 2027.
INDIA
India's state Karnataka banned the use of social media by children under 16 in March. Its neighbouring state Goa is also weighing a similar ban, its IT minister said in January.
INDONESIA
Indonesia in March introduced restrictions on social media access for under-16s. The measures are being implemented gradually and apply to platforms designated by the government as posing a high risk to minors.
MALAYSIA
Malaysia has begun barring those under 16 from registering accounts on social media platforms, its communications regulator said on June 1.
PORTUGAL
Portugal's parliament approved a bill in February that requires explicit parental consent for children between 13 and 16 to access social media.
TURKEY
Turkey's parliament passed legislation in April banning the use of social media by children under 15 and introducing new rules for digital platforms, including game software companies.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
The UAE approved a resolution in June that set a minimum age for social media use. The resolution prohibits children under 15 from creating or using personal social media accounts and restricts their access to the platforms' full features.
UNITED STATES
California Governor Gavin Newsom on September 11 signed into law new restrictions barring children under 16 from exposure to addictive features on social media platforms and banning AI chatbot companion-containing toys.
US legislation aimed at forcing social media companies to do more to protect children and teenagers cleared a key political hurdle in May after Republican Senator Ted Cruz said he would support the bill.
Cruz said he would back the Kids Online Safety Act, which would require social media companies to "exercise reasonable care" in designing features that contribute to harm to minors, according to the bill.
PROPOSED LEGISLATION
BRITAIN
Britain plans to approve a social media ban for under-16s by Christmas, with the measure set to take effect around spring 2027, former Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in June.
He also said big tech firms operating in Britain must stop children circulating nude images on their phones or they will face legislation forcing them to do so.
DENMARK
Denmark said in November 2025 it would ban social media for children under 15, while parents could provide access to certain platforms to kids down to the age of 13.
EUROPEAN UNION
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed on September 17 to ban under-13s from social media and require online services to design safe children's accounts. Tech companies would risk fines of up to 6% of their global annual sales for non-compliance, together with supervisory fees.
Social media and video-sharing services, online video games, AI companions and chatbots for children below 18 would be subject to a list of dos and don'ts.
FRANCE
France's top court on August 14 blocked a bill banning social media access for under-15s, saying it infringed upon freedom of expression.
France's parliament had approved the ban in July amid growing concerns about online bullying and mental health risks.
GERMANY
Germany's ruling conservatives in February passed a motion to ban social media use for under-14s, introducing more stringent digital verification checks for teenagers.
NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is proposing a ban on children under 16 using social media, with fines of up to 10% of a platform's global revenue for non-compliance.
The proposed legislation would require social media platforms to take reasonable steps to verify users' ages, including by utilising existing account information, facial technology and digital identity documents.
NORWAY
The Norwegian government in 2024 proposed raising the age at which children can consent to the terms required to use social media to 15 from 13, although parents would still be permitted to sign off on their behalf if they are under the age limit.
The government has also begun work on legislation to set an absolute minimum age limit of 15 for social media use.
POLAND
Poland's ruling party is preparing new legislation to ban social media for children under 15 and to hold platforms responsible for age verification, it said in February.
SLOVENIA
Slovenia is drafting a law that would prohibit children under 15 from accessing social media, Deputy Prime Minister Matej Arcon said in February.
($1 = 1.4071 Australian dollars)
(Compiled by Christine Chen in Sydney, Canan Sevgili, Hugo Lhomedet, Paolo Laudani, Lucie Barbier, Vera Dvorakova and Agnieszka Olenska in Gdansk and Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak, Bernadette Baum, Matt Scuffham and Joyjeet Das)
