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Spain to Ban Social Media for Under-16s, Hold Executives Responsible for Hate Speech
Spain plans to prohibit social media use for children under 16 and introduce a law holding platform executives personally accountable for hate speech and algorithmic abuse.
ND
by News Desk
2026-02-03
Spain to Ban Social Media for Under-16s, Hold Executives Responsible for Hate Speech

Spain will ban children under 16 from using social media and introduce legislation to hold platform executives personally accountable for hate speech and illegal content, Prime Minister **Pedro Sanchez** announced Tuesday at the World Governments Summit in Dubai.

 

Sanchez described social media as a “digital Wild West” exposing children to content they were never meant to navigate alone. “We will protect them from harm and hold those responsible accountable,” he said.

 

The proposed legislation will criminalise **algorithmic manipulation** and the amplification of illegal content while requiring platforms to implement robust **age verification systems**. Sanchez said prosecutors would explore legal infractions involving platforms including Elon Musk’s **Grok AI**, TikTok, and Instagram (Meta).

 

Spain joins other European countries forming a **“Coalition of the Digitally Willing”** to coordinate cross-border regulation, although Sanchez did not disclose all members.

 

The move follows global concerns over **children’s screen time, mental health, and exposure to AI-generated content**, including non-consensual sexual imagery reported recently on Grok AI. Australia became the first country to ban social media for children under 16 in December 2025, deactivating nearly **5 million accounts** in weeks.

 

While widely supported by the public—**82% of Spaniards favor banning children under 14 from social media**, according to a 2025 Ipsos poll—the plan has drawn criticism from far-right opposition. Vox party spokesperson **Pepa Millan** accused the government of using regulation to censor dissent and maintain narrative control.

 

Sanchez emphasized that the measures are part of a broader push for **responsible digital governance**, arguing that social media owners, whom he previously described as a “techno-caste,” must be accountable for “poisoning society” with unchecked algorithms.

 

The law will amend Spain’s existing **digital protection bill for minors** and could begin its parliamentary process as early as next week, according to government sources.

 

 
Tagged:

DigitalSafety

SpainSocialMediaBan

ProtectChildrenOnline
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