Name: Spaniards react to new social media ban for under-16s
Uploaded: 2026-02-03T17:05:35.000Z
Duration: 2 min 21 s
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Basic passive voice

Spain is set to ban social media for anyone under the age of 16.

We will protect them from the digital wild west.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the plan on Tuesday, along with several measures aimed at ensuring online safety.

Our children are exposed to a space they were never meant to navigate alone, space of addiction, abuse, pornography, manipulation, violence.

At the world government summit in Dubai, Sanchez said platforms would be required to bring in effective age verification, real barriers that work.

In Madrid, there were voices of cautious support.

I understand that this measure is necessary because I believe that children under the age of 16 are not yet capable of managing something as big as social media.

It has many good things, but many that are not so good they are bad.

And since we don't know how to handle the negative side, I understand that it is better for social media to remain closed to certain age groups.

There are many adults who do not know how to use it either, but

Australia in December became the first country to ban social media for under 16s.

Other countries such as France and Britain are closely watching the move as they consider similar measures.

Spain's left wing coalition government has repeatedly complained about the spread of hate speech, pornographic content and disinformation on social media.

Sanchez said on Tuesday a bill would be introduced next week to hold company executives to account.

CEOs of these techno platforms will face criminal liability for failing to remove illegal or hateful content.

It would also criminalize algorithmic manipulation and the amplification of illegal content.

Sanchez said Spain had joined what he called the Coalition of the Digitally willing with several other European countries to coordinate and enforce cross border regulation.

He acknowledged the tough fight that lay ahead, but

stressed the need for countries to defend their digital sovereignty.