New Delhi: Governments across the world are introducing stricter rules on children's access to social media amid growing concerns about online safety, mental health, cyberbullying and excessive screen time.

Australia became the first country to ban social media access for children under 16, with the law taking effect on December 10, 2025. The regulation requires major platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube to block underage users. Companies that fail to comply can face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars.

In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to introduce a similar ban for children under 16. The measure is expected to be approved by the end of the year and come into force in 2027. The UK government is also pushing technology companies to develop tools that can detect and block nude images on devices used by children.

China has already introduced a "minor mode" system that limits screen time and online access for children based on their age through device-level and app-specific controls.

Several European countries are also moving towards stricter regulations. France has approved a proposal to ban social media access for children under 15, while Denmark plans to introduce a similar restriction. Greece, Poland and Slovenia are preparing laws that would prohibit social media use by children below the age of 15.

Germany currently allows children aged 13 to 16 to use social media only with parental consent, while Italy requires parental approval for users under 14.

Spain is planning to ban social media access for children under 16 and require platforms to implement age-verification systems. Sweden has also recommended setting the minimum age for social media use at 15.

Outside Europe, Malaysia has started preventing children under 16 from creating social media accounts. Norway is working on legislation to raise the minimum age for social media use to 15, while Turkey has passed a law banning social media access for children under 15.

In India, the Chief Economic Adviser earlier this year called for age restrictions on social media platforms, describing them as highly engaging and potentially harmful to young users. The state of Goa has also considered measures similar to those introduced in Australia.

In the United States, lawmakers are debating new legislation that would require social media companies to take stronger steps to protect children and teenagers online. Several states have already introduced laws requiring parental consent for minors to access social media, although some have faced legal challenges.

At the European Union level, officials are considering stronger protections for children. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for action against addictive features on social media platforms, while the European Parliament has supported stricter age limits and parental consent requirements.

Meanwhile, major social media companies such as TikTok, Facebook and Snapchat currently require users to be at least 13 years old to create an account. However, child safety groups argue that these safeguards are not strong enough, noting that many children below that age continue to use social media platforms.

The growing number of restrictions reflects a global effort to make the internet safer for children and address concerns about the impact of social media on their health, development and well-being.

Source: https://ddnews.gov.in