Spain is taking a significant step towards safeguarding its youth by proposing a ban on social media usage for individuals under the age of sixteen. This initiative, announced by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at the World Government Summit in Dubai, aims to address the growing concerns surrounding online safety for young people, as emphasized in the official statement.
New Age Verification Systems in Spain
The Spanish government plans to implement stringent age verification systems for social media platforms, ensuring that only users who meet the age requirement can access these services. Additionally, social media executives will face criminal charges if they fail to promptly remove harmful content from their platforms, marking a shift in accountability for online safety.
Spain's Unique Approach to Social Media Regulation
This initiative distinguishes Spain from other nations, such as:
- France
- Australia
which have also sought to regulate social media usage among minors. The lawmaking process is set to commence next week, with the government also focusing on measures to combat online hate speech and polarization, further emphasizing its commitment to creating a safer digital environment for young users.
In a recent legal challenge, New Mexico prosecutors are addressing the impact of Meta's algorithms on young users, highlighting concerns similar to those raised by Spain's proposed social media regulations. For more details, see read more.
