politics
February 6, 2026
Europe’s social media age shift
It is just the beginning of 2026, and things are happening even faster than last year. Not only in technology, but also in regulations, laws, and in how we deal with all the information around us.
TL;DR
- European governments are considering raising the minimum age for social media access above 13, with proposals for 15 or 16.
- Measures include stricter age verification, disabling addictive features, and holding platforms liable for harmful content.
- Spain plans to ban access for under-16s without strict age verification, while France proposed a ban for under-15s.
- Concerns focus on exposure to harmful content, addictive engagement, and risks to mental health and privacy.
- Enforcement is complicated by technical difficulties, privacy concerns with verification methods, and the potential for users to circumvent rules.
- The debate centers on balancing digital opportunity and vulnerability, and safeguarding children's safety while respecting their freedoms.
- A UK coroner's finding linking social media content to a teenager's death highlights the urgency of the issue.
- Potential outcomes include reduced exposure to harmful material but also risks of teens moving to unregulated online spaces.
Continue reading
the original article