Mapping the Spread of Child Safety Rules | #childsafety | #kids | #chldern | #parents | #schoolsafey

Introduction

Since Australia introduced a social media ban for under-16s in late 2025, governments around the world have begun enacting or considering strict age verification requirements or age limits for children.

Online child safety represents a common concern. But bans or restrictions generate heated debate.

Supporters contend they are needed to protect children from dangerous abuse. Young people online can be exposed to bullying, adult content, hate speech, and grooming or other exploitative and abusive behaviors. In Europe, 75% of surveyed citizens agree that governments should set minimum ages for social media. In the US, juries have found social media companies liable for harming young users with addictive design features that contributed to mental health distress.

Critics counter that the bans threaten freedom of expression and privacy and are ineffective at protecting youth. In March 2026, 371 privacy and security experts released an open letter raising concerns over how to enforce social media bans effectively and securely. UNICEF argues that social media can help young people access their rights — including to self-expression, privacy, and access to information — and advocates for safety by design and digital literacy.

Australian eSafety Commission Julie Inman Grant conceded that the country’s social media age restriction has been difficult to enforce and has yet to result in decreased harm — or in keeping kids offline.

Around the globe, governments are taking different approaches. Some are introducing mandatory age verification systems. Others are strengthening parental consent and control. Others focus, instead, on digital literacy programs or enforcing rules targeting specific platforms.

In order to chart the debate, CEPA has created a map to help situate the steps a range of countries — and the EU — are taking in the effort to address this challenge.

*This information is not exhaustive, but a representative selection of cases in a highly dynamic policy context.

Countries

Africa

Egypt

Egypt’s House of Representatives has announced plans to draft legislation restricting young people’s social media use. In a context in which the Internet is heavily controlled, President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi speaks about social media age restrictions as a way to combat “digital chaos.” Whether the legislation will include an age restriction — or when the legislation will be introduced — remains unknown.

Kenya

Kenya’s Communications Authority released child safety guidelines last year encouraging mobile operators, broadcasters, and app and content providers to impose age restrictions. At the same time, the guidelines also emphasize the importance of children’s right to access information and freely express themselves.

South Africa

Some sources have reported that government officials are considering restricting access to major platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, but there have yet to be any formal announcements or legislative proposals.

Americas

Brazil

Brazil enacted the Digital Statute of the Child and Adolescent in September 2025. It requires social media companies to set up parental controls and age verification techniques to ensure that under-18s cannot access inappropriate content. The law blocks tech firms from using minors’ data for targeted advertising, but does not establish a social media age limit. It took effect in March 2026.

Canada

Canadian officials are considering a social media ban for under-14s, but no legislation has been passed or introduced. Canada passed a law in 2025 making it illegal to make pornographic material available to anyone under 18.

Ecuador

Ecuador’s National Assembly is considering a proposal to ban social media for children under 15. The proposal, introduced by ruling party legislator Katherine Pacheco in February 2026, would fine non-compliant platforms up to 5% of their local annual revenue. Exceptions would apply to educational platforms and certified child-safe versions with parental controls.

Trinidad and Tobago

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said the government is considering limiting social media access for young people under 12 years old. The announcement came after Roman Catholic Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon called for laws to protect children online.

United States of America

Although no federal legislation restricting social media access exists, Members of Congress have introduced several bills. For instance, the Kids Online Safety Act would require platforms to strengthen privacy settings for children and provide under-18s with additional safety and wellbeing options. The Kids Off Social Media Act would limit children under 13 from creating social media accounts.

Several states have put forward legislation. In February 2026, California Governor Gavin Newsom spoke in favor of restricting social media use for under-16s, and a bipartisan group of California lawmakers introduced legislation calling for a minimum age to create a social media account. In Virginia, a new law took effect on January 1, 2026, that requires social media platforms to verify that users are at least 16 years old and limit under-16s to one hour of social media use per day

In mid-2025, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen signed a package of bills aimed at protecting children’s personal information online, giving parents greater control over account settings, and requiring social media design features to be made less addictive. Starting in the middle of 2026, under-18s will require parental consent to create a social media account.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law a prohibition on under-14s creating social media accounts on most platforms. In Utah, the Minor Protection in Social Media Act is held up in court. A Texas law seeking to require app stores to verify users’ ages and require parental consent for app purchases was blocked by a federal judge in late 2025. A similar rule was signed into law by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey this month.

Social media companies are also facing lawsuits about child safety. In March 2026, a California jury found Meta and YouTube negligent in their deliberate design of addictive platforms for children, and another in New Mexico ruled that Meta failed to protect children from sexual exploitation. TikTok and Snap settled before the California trial. More than 40 state attorneys general have filed similar lawsuits against Meta, and a federal trial representing school districts is set to begin in June of this year.

Asia

China

China launched its “minor mode” setting last year, which increases parental control over their children’s online activities. Minor mode includes recommended usage limits by age, blocks non-essential apps between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., and issues reminders to take a break from the device every 30 minutes. Minor mode also includes the option to block messages from strangers or specific users and allows parents to customize the default restrictions.

China requires platforms to recommend age-appropriate content and implement content filters for children. The Chinese authorities already heavily censor the Internet, so child safety efforts in China are pursued in this restrictive context.

India

Indian officials are debating a social media ban for children under 16. The Ministry of Finance’s annual Economic Survey included social media age restrictions as an area of concern. In mid-February 2026, Indian Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that the government is having conversations with tech companies about age-related social media restrictions.

Several Indian states are considering action. In Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu stated that a rule banning children under 13 from accessing social media will be introduced in the next 90 days. Goan Tourism and IT Minister Rohan Khaunte announced that the state is looking into the feasibility of a social media ban. In Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah spoke about a social media ban for children under 16 — although no details about enforcement were provided.

Indonesia

Starting in March 2026, the Indonesian government has restricted children under 16 from accessing social media. The limitations do not represent a complete ban; restrictions depend on specific platforms’ level of risk. Children under-16 can no longer use YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Roblox, or livestreaming platform Bigo Live — all deemed high-risk by the government. Low-risk platforms are accessible to children aged 13 and up. Platforms will be required to gradually comply starting on March 28, 2026.

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan, which has a tightly controlled Internet, is considering a proposed amendment that would ban under-16s from creating social media accounts, except for messenger apps. The amendment has not yet become law.

Malaysia

Malaysia’s Online Safety Act, passed in 2025, bans youth under 16 years old from creating social media accounts.

Pakistan

Senators Syed Masroor Ahsan and Sarmad Ali introduced legislation in 2025 that would prohibit under-16s from using social media. After significant pushback, the senators withdrew the bill and promised revisions, including lowering the minimum age to 13 or 14. A new bill has not yet been proposed.

The Philippines

The government has introduced a bill blocking under-18s from using social media and requiring platforms to verify users’ ages. But it has yet to become law.

Singapore

Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority released a new code of practice in 2025 requiring app stores to implement age verification systems before users can download apps meant for adults, such as dating apps. The code applies to Apple, Google, Huawei, Samsung, and Microsoft’s app stores. Google has announced several age verification measures that apply across the company’s products, including YouTube. Instagram has restricted features for those under 18.

Tajikistan

Dilnoza Ahmadzoda, an MP in Tajikistan, introduced a proposal to ban social media access for under-14s in late 2025. The Internet in Tajikistan is already heavily censored, and many media outlets and social media platforms are blocked in the country.

United Arab Emirates

The UAE’s Child Digital Safety Law requires platforms to implement age verification systems that differ based on the platform’s level of risk and potential impact on children. Platforms have until January 1, 2027, to comply.

Vietnam

Vietnam’s Internet is heavily censored. Vietnam began requiring parents in 2024 to register their under-16’s social media accounts and supervise what they share online. In early 2026, Vietnam’s ruling party issued a directive that requires social media firms to implement identity checks and age restrictions for minors.

Europe

Austria

Austria agreed on a social media ban for under-14s in March 2026. The government expects to have a draft proposal in June 2026.

Belgium

After the country’s Superior Health Council released a report in December 2025 on the impact of social media on young people’s wellbeing, Belgium announced it would consider implementing social media age restrictions. At the same time, the Belgian government declined to sign a declaration of support for a “digital age of majority” in late 2025. All other European Union countries signed, except for Estonia.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria does not have legislation establishing a minimum age for social media access, but will be required to comply with EU regulation.

Croatia

Croatia does not have legislation establishing a minimum age for social media access but will be required to comply with EU regulation.

Cyprus

Cyprus does not have legislation establishing a minimum age for social media access but will be required to comply with EU regulation.

Czech Republic

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and Vice Prime Minister Karel Havlíček have both spoken in favor of a proposed social media ban for under-15s.

Denmark

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen spoke in favor of the social media ban for under-15s in late 2025. If the proposed agreement is adopted, parents would be able to override the rule and allow children between 13 and 15 to have a social media account. The plan could become law as soon as mid-2026.

Estonia

Estonia has pushed back on the EU’s plans to restrict young people’s social media access. It declined to sign a declaration of support for a “digital age of majority.” Instead, the government promotes digital education for young people.

European Union

The European Parliament approved a resolution in 2025 by a 483-92 vote recommending a minimum age of 16 for social media use. Parents would be free to give consent to their children between 13 and 15 to access social media. But the resolution is non-binding.

The European Commission has also released guidelines for online child protection under the Digital Services Act. Among other measures, the guidelines call for modifying recommendation algorithms and setting minors’ accounts to private automatically. It is also piloting an age verification mechanism in several member states.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has appointed an expert group to advise on whether to ban social media for children, with the aim of coming up with recommendations by summer 2026.

In March 2026, the European Parliament failed to renew a temporary law allowing social media companies to scan content on their platforms for child sexual abuse material over data privacy concerns.

Finland

Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has spoken out in favor of a social media ban for young people under 15, but legislation has yet to be proposed.

France

The French National Assembly passed a bill in 2026 to ban social media for under-15s by a vote of 130-21. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill and — if passed — enforcement is planned for September 2026. At the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi in February 2026, President Emmanuel Macron threw his support behind the proposal and referred to the group of countries planning to implement social media bans as a “new ‘coalition of the willing.’”

Germany

Members of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s party have spoken in favor of a social media ban for under-16s, but no draft bills have been proposed.

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Greece

In April, Greece proposed a draft bill to prohibit under-15s from using social media. If passed, it will come into effect in January 2027. The Ministry of Digital Governance would use the state-built Kids Wallet app, introduced last year, to enforce the ban.

Hungary

Hungary does not have legislation establishing a minimum age for social media access but will be required to comply with EU regulation.

Iceland

Iceland’s Minister of Education and Children, Inga Sæland, supports a social media age limit of 15 and has said that legislative proposals are at the “drawing board stage.” Former deputy MP Skúli Bragi Geirdal submitted a resolution to establish a social media age requirement of 15 or 16 in late 2025, but the resolution did not become law. Iceland signed an EU declaration in support of a “digital age of majority.”

Ireland

Ireland’s Minister for Communications, Patrick O’Donovan, intends to propose a new social media age verification system and said children’s online safety will be a focus of Ireland’s EU Presidency, which will begin in July 2026.

Italy

The Italian government has introduced a bill that would restrict social media use for children under 15, including restrictions on child influencers. A 2018 law requires under-14s to have parental consent to access social media. A class action lawsuit filed by the Italian Parents’ Movement (MOIGE) aims to limit social media use by children under 14 and force the platforms to strengthen age-verification policies.

Latvia

Latvia does not have legislation establishing a minimum age for social media access but will be required to comply with EU regulation.

Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein does not have legislation establishing a minimum age for social media access but may be required to comply with EU regulation as a member of the European Economic Area.

Lithuania

Lithuania does not have legislation establishing a minimum age for social media access but will be required to comply with EU regulation.

Luxembourg

The Luxembourg parliament debated a social media age restriction in late January 2026, but the government would prefer EU-wide rules. Luxembourg’s Justice Minister, Elisabeth Margue, said that the country may move forward with national policy if the EU fails to act.

Malta

Malta’s Prime Minister, Robert Abela, announced that under-13s will soon be subject to social media restrictions. The soon-to-be-introduced regulations may later be extended to older age groups.

Montenegro

Two parliament members introduced a bill to ban social media use for children under 13 and to require parental consent for children between 13 and 16. The bill would also ban sexualized and deep-fake content featuring children.

Netherlands

The Dutch government is pushing to raise the minimum social media age to 15 across Europe, but the country does not have its own age restriction law.

Norway

Norway is holding a public consultation to gather feedback on a potential new law to prohibit social media access for under-15s. Norway signed a declaration in support of a “digital age of majority,” along with most EU countries.

Poland

Poland’s governing Civic Coalition is drafting a law to ban social media for under-15s. Poland plans to update its mObywatel digital ID app to allow for age verification that would enable social media age restrictions.

Portugal

Portugal has proposed legislation that would require parental permission for under-16s to use social media.

Romania

Romania’s Digital Adulthood Law, approved by the Senate and still under consideration by the Chamber of Deputies, would prohibit children under 16 from accessing social media without parental consent. If passed, parents will also be empowered to suspend their children’s accounts.

Russia

Russian parliamentarian Andrei Svintsov’s call for restricting social media for under-14s received little support, and Anton Gorelkin, first deputy chairman of Russia’s State Duma information policy committee, said parliament is not developing a social media ban for children.

Russia’s information environment is heavily censored, and the government has banned or restricted platforms such as Roblox, Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and YouTube.

Slovakia

Slovakia does not have legislation establishing a minimum age for social media access but will be required to comply with EU regulation.

Slovenia

The government is drafting legislation to ban children under-15 years old from using social media.

Spain

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez plans to prohibit social media use for children under 16 years of age.

Sweden

Sweden does not have legislation establishing a minimum age for social media access but will be required to comply with EU regulation.

Switzerland

After Australia’s age restrictions took effect, Swiss officials began considering a similar ban. But the Swiss Federal Commission for Children and Youth Affairs came out against the ban, arguing it could violate the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to access information and education.

Turkey

Turkey’s ruling party submitted a draft law limiting social media access for under-15s in the wake of a parliamentary report recommending age restrictions.

United Kingdom

The UK’s 2023 Online Safety Act obliges websites that host adult content to conduct age verification of users. In addition, the UK government opened a consultation to explore a social media ban for young people under-16. Some 60 Labour MPs have signed an open letter advocating for the legislation.

Oceania

Australia

Australia became the first country to implement a comprehensive social media ban in December 2025. The Online Safety Amendment Bill blocks under-16s from making accounts on social media apps, including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, X, and Facebook. Under-16s who already have social media accounts are not permitted to keep them. Parents cannot overrule the ban. Since coming into force, social media companies have deactivated more than 4.5 million accounts. Tech companies that fail to comply face fines and penalties.

Fiji

While some Fijian officials have spoken about adopting a law similar to Australia’s under-16 ban, no draft legislation has been proposed.

New Zealand

New Zealand’s government introduced a bill to restrict social media access for under-16s in late 2025, modeled on Australia’s. But the bill is still being debated and has not yet become law.

Jenna Presta is the Senior Program Officer for the Tech Policy Program at the Center for European Policy Analysis.

Maria-Doriana Gheorghe and Victoria Paketci provided research. Maria-Doriana and Victoria are both interns with the Tech Policy Program. Victoria is a master’s student at Georgetown University, and Maria-Doriana is completing a master’s in international governance and diplomacy at Sciences Po in Paris.

Bandwidth is CEPA’s online journal dedicated to advancing transatlantic cooperation on tech policy. All opinions expressed on Bandwidth are those of the author alone and may not represent those of the institutions they represent or the Center for European Policy Analysis. CEPA maintains a strict intellectual independence policy across all its projects and publications.

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