Australia became the first country to impose a blanket prohibition on social‑media accounts for users under 16, a rule that took effect at the end of 2025 and is already prompting other governments to consider similar measures.
The Australian eSafety Agency reports that more than 80 % of children aged 10‑15 circumvent the ban, highlighting the enforcement challenges that accompany strict age‑based restrictions.
In Southeast Asia, both Malaysia and Indonesia have already enacted total bans for under‑16s, while China has introduced a “minor mode” that limits screen time for users aged 8‑16 and restricts night‑time access, though it stops short of an outright prohibition.
Turkey and the United Arab Emirates have introduced tighter controls for under‑15s, and Brazil requires a guardian‑linked account for anyone under 16, illustrating a diverse array of approaches to age verification and parental oversight.
The United States lacks a federal ban, but Meta recently settled a multi‑state lawsuit over youth addiction with a $17 billion settlement, signaling growing pressure on platforms to self‑regulate.
In Europe, the European Commission unveiled the EU Kids Act, coinciding with the French Parliament's recent approval of a ban on under‑15s, aiming to harmonise age‑verification standards across member states.
However, France’s ban hit a legal roadblock on 14 August when the Conseil Constitutionnel struck down the article that would have barred under‑15s from social media, citing insufficient safeguards for freedom of expression and privacy; President Macron has asked the government to rewrite the measure.
The United Kingdom announced in June a draft law to ban under‑16s, proposing facial‑recognition or ID‑document scans for age verification, while Portugal passed a total ban for under‑13s and requires parental consent for 13‑16‑year‑olds as of February 2026.
Denmark has a government agreement in place to ban under‑15s, with legislation pending; Spain’s premier has pledged a ban at 16 but awaits parliamentary approval; Germany’s parliament is studying a possible block for under‑14s, and Norway’s recent public consultation favours a 15‑year threshold linked to the national BankID system.
In Italy, the debate is active in Parliament with several bills on the table: a bipartisan proposal by Lavinia Mennuni (FdI) and Marianna Madia (PD) would raise the autonomous registration age to 15 and mandate parental‑control tools; other initiatives range from a total ban under 13 (Mara Carfagna, Noi Moderati) to extending parental consent to adulthood (Giorgia Latini, Lega) and shifting platform responsibility (Nicita‑Basso, PD).