Australia implemented a first-of-its-kind ban on social media use for adolescents under 16 years in December 2025., Now, many other countries are considering similar steps. Research by Statista shows France and the United Kingdom will most likely follow suit soon with laws passing in one chamber each of their respective parliaments as of early February.
While the UK is looking at banning social media access for children under 16, France's proposal targets those under 15 years.
Six other countries have also seen leadership-level announcements proposing similar curbs. These include Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Spain, Greece and Austria.
According to Statista, “While Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand and Spain all have more restrictive regulations in mind, excluding those under the age of 16, Greece is aiming to exclude those under the age of 15, and Austria those under the age of 14 from social media.”
Two more proposed bans in Europe by Portugal and Denmark are expected to allow social media use with parental consent. This approach is already followed in France, Italy and Brazil, where children can access platforms only if their parents agree.
Countries Moving Toward Social Media Limits For Minors
According to Statista, social media restrictions fall into multiple stages globally.
Enacted
Australia (Under 16)
Passed By Single Parliament Chamber
France (Under 15)
United Kingdom (Under 16)
Initiative Announced By Leadership
Austria (Under 14)
Greece (Under 15)
Malaysia (Under 16)
Spain (Under 16)
Indonesia (Under 16)
New Zealand (Under 16)
Parental Consent Required
France (13 to 15 year old)
Italy (Under 14)
Norway (planned, under 15)
Brazil (Under 16)
Nebraska and Virginia in the US (Under 18)
Denmark (planned, 13 to 14 year old)
Portugal (planned, under 16)
Implementation timelines vary. In Brazil, the rules are expected to take effect in March 2026, while in Virginia usage may be limited to one hour per day.
Concerns Over Social Media And Youth Mental Health
According to Statista, social media platforms, especially those using personalised algorithms and endless scrolling, are increasingly being examined for their impact on mental health among younger users. While addiction can affect people across age groups, concerns are strongest for adolescents, who are still developing social behaviour, body image awareness and time management skills.
How Bans And Parental Controls Could Work
Strict bans such as Australia's are expected to rely on formal age verification systems. In contrast, parental consent-based models could function through linked parent and child accounts.
Instagram has already introduced ‘Teen Accounts' to automatically place teenagers into built-in safety settings and give parents greater confidence about their children's online experience. The feature has been rolled out globally, wherever Instagram is available. Teen Accounts restrict who can contact teenagers, control the type of content they see and help manage how much time they spend on the platform.
Teenagers under 16 years need parental permission to make these safety settings less strict. Additional safeguards have also been included. Under these, users below the age of 16 cannot access Live without parental approval or disable the feature that blocks unwanted images in direct messages.
Also Read: Andhra Pradesh Considering Australia-Like Social Media Ban For Kids: Nara Lokesh
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