Australia leads the pack, having introduced a ban on users under 16 that will take effect at the end of 2025. The measure carries heavy fines for non‑compliant platforms, yet eSafety data show that more than 80% of Australians aged 10‑15 still manage to bypass the restriction and remain active on social networks.
Southeast Asia follows suit: both Malaysia and Indonesia have already imposed total bans on social‑media use for anyone under 16, while China has not enacted an outright prohibition but requires a built‑in “minor mode” that limits screen time for children aged 8‑16, including night‑time restrictions.
In the Middle East, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates enforce strict limits for users under 15, and Brazil mandates that accounts belonging to minors under 16 be linked to a guardian’s profile.
The United States lacks a federal ban, but Meta recently settled a multi‑state lawsuit over youth addiction with a payment of roughly $17 billion, signalling industry pressure despite the absence of nationwide legislation.
Europe presents a patchwork of approaches. France’s parliament approved a ban for under‑15s on July 21, only for the Constitutional Council to strike down the article on August 14, citing insufficient safeguards for freedom of expression and privacy. President Macron has asked the government to rewrite the rule.
Across the Channel, Labour leader Keir Starmer announced in June a draft law that would bar under‑16s from social platforms, requiring age verification through facial‑recognition scans or official ID documents.
Portugal approved a total ban for children under 13 in February 2026 and will require parental consent for users aged 13‑16. Denmark’s coalition government has signed an agreement to prohibit access for under‑15s, with legislation pending. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has pledged a ban at 16, awaiting parliamentary approval, while Germany’s parliamentary committee is examining a possible block for those under 14. Norway concluded a public consultation that aims for a 15‑year age limit, coupled with mandatory BankID authentication.
In Italy, the debate is alive in Parliament. A bipartisan bill by Lavinia Mennuni (FdI) and Marianna Madia (PD) proposes raising the autonomous registration age to 15, introducing parental‑control tools and enhanced online protections. Additional proposals include Mara Carfagna’s call for a total ban under 13, Giorgia Latini’s (Lega) suggestion to extend parental consent to adulthood, and the Nicita‑Basso (PD) initiative that shifts responsibility onto the platforms themselves.
The EU Kids Act, adopted today, seeks to harmonise age‑verification standards across member states, reinforcing the broader international trend of protecting minors from digital addiction, cyber‑bullying and harmful content while confronting the technical and privacy challenges of enforcing such measures.