Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain has announced plans to introduce a nationwide ban prohibiting anyone under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms, marking one of the strongest regulatory actions yet in Europe to protect children and adolescents from the potential harms of online environments.
The announcement was made during a press conference on Wednesday, January 29, 2026, as part of a broader child safety and digital well-being package. If passed, the measure would make Spain one of the first major democracies to enforce a strict minimum age of 16 for social media use.
The proposal will now go through parliamentary debate, with a final vote expected later in 2026.
By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi
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