Thus, a European regulation prohibits access for children under 16 years old to social networks.

Spain will ban the use of social media platforms for children under 16, and platforms will be required to implement age verification systems, announced Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Tuesday.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez presented a package of measures aimed at protecting children from the risks of the online environment, announcing the ban on access to social networks for minors under 16. At the World Government Summit in Dubai, he emphasized the need to implement age verification systems on these platforms, describing social networks as a "failed state" where laws are ignored.

Sánchez promised that a new bill will hold platform directors responsible for illegal and inciting content.

Wave of laws restricting minors' access to social networks

Spain's initiative follows similar measures recently adopted in Australia and other European countries, such as France.

And the Portuguese Parliament has proposed a law that sets the digital age of majority at 16. Adolescents aged between 13 and 16 would only be able to access social networks with parental consent, and platforms will need to implement an age verification system.

In Romania, the head of the Department for Emergency Situations, Raed Arafat has called on Romanian lawmakers to legislate the limitation of minors' access to social networks, following serious events involving children. However, Health Minister Alexandru Rogobete believes that banning access to social networks for children is difficult to implement, and the solution lies in education.

We also remind that Informat.ro conducted a comprehensive analysis on how access for minors to social networks is regulated in Romania, Europe and around the world.