Here are some countries that want to ban social media for children:

Over the past few months, many countries have announced plans to restrict children and young people’s access to social media. Australia was the first to implement such measures late last year, setting a precedent that other countries are now watching closely. France is now the latest country to announce such measures.

Regulations and proposals from governments around the world aim to reduce the pressures and risks young users can face on social media, including cyberbullying, addiction, mental health issues and exposure to predators.

Of course, there are privacy concerns due to invasive age verification and excessive government intervention. Critics, including Amnesty Tech, have said such bans are ineffective and ignore the realities of younger generations. Nonetheless, many countries are moving forward with proposed legislation.

We’ve compiled a list of countries that are considering or have already moved forward with a social media ban for young users.

australia

Australia became the first country in the world to ban social media for children under 16 in December 2025. The ban blocks children from using Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch and Kick. Notably, it does not include WhatsApp or YouTube Kids.

The Australian government said it must take action to stop these social media companies from providing their services to children. Companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to 49.5 million AUD ($34.4 million).

The government says these platforms must use a variety of verification methods to ensure people using their services are over 16. They also point out that users can’t rely on simply entering their age.

Austria

Austria said in late March it would ban social media for children under 14. The draft ban bill is expected to be finalized by June.

Canada

The Canadian government introduced a digital safety bill in early June that would ban social media for children under 16. The bill would allow social media giants to avoid bans if they prove they have policies in place to protect young users. Officials said it could take a year for the bill to pass.

Denmark

Denmark plans to ban social media platforms for children under 15. The Danish government announced in November 2025 that it had secured support for a ban from three coalition parties and two opposition parties in parliament.

The government’s plan could become law as early as mid-2026, according to the Associated Press. Denmark’s Ministry of Digital Affairs will also launch a ‘digital evidence’ app containing an age verification tool that could be used as part of the ban.

france

France passed a law on July 21 banning access to social media for under-15s. The law could come into effect as early as September 1. The law would also ban cell phone use in high schools and expand bans already in place in elementary and middle schools.

germany

Reuters reported in early February that conservatives led by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz discussed a proposal to ban social media use by children under 16. But there were signs that his centre-left coalition partners were hesitant to support an outright ban.

Greece

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced in April that the country would ban children under 15 from accessing social media from January 2027. Mitsotakis said the measures were intended to address the addictive design of social media, as well as rising anxiety and sleep problems among children.

Indonesia

Indonesia said in early March it would ban children under 16 from using social media and other popular online platforms. The country plans to launch with platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox.

malaysia

The Malaysian government has said it plans to ban social media for children under 16 in November 2025. Malaysia plans to implement a ban this year.

Poland

Poland’s ruling party is preparing a draft new law that would ban children under 15 from using social media, Bloomberg reported in February.

Slovenian

Slovenia is drafting legislation to ban children under 15 from accessing social media, the country’s deputy prime minister announced in early February. The government is seeking to regulate social networks on which content is shared, citing platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram.

spain

Spain’s prime minister announced plans to ban social media for children under 16 in early February. The ban still requires congressional approval. The Spanish government is also trying to create legislation that would make social media executives personally liable for hate speech on their platforms.

turkey

In April, Türkiye’s parliament passed a law restricting access to social media for children under 15. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan must now accept the bill if it is to become law.

uk

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on June 15 that the government would ban social media use by children under 16. The ban applies to a variety of social media platforms, including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X.

Messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal are not included in the ban. There will also be limitations to AI tools, as AI “romantic companion” chatbots must be ensured that they can only be used by people over the age of 18.

Experts have questioned whether a blanket ban would be effective. Starmer acknowledged the challenges but believes it is possible to implement them. He said the ban could be in place by spring 2027.

This story was originally published in February 2026 and is updated regularly with new information.