Spain prepares a social-media ban for under-16s

The Spanish Government plans to ban access to social networks for under-16s. The measure seeks to strengthen children's digital protection. The new law is expected to be approved next week. Barcelona is closely following the debate. Digital platforms will be under greater scrutiny.

Families in Barcelona and the rest of Spain could soon face a radical change in their children's digital lives. The central Government has announced its intention to ban under-16s from accessing social networks, a decision that will directly affect the daily routine of thousands of teenagers and the way they relate online.

The measure, expected to be approved next week, will not only limit young people's presence on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok or X, but will also require major technology companies to strengthen their age-verification systems. The Government wants those responsible for these companies to answer before the courts if breaches or harm to minors are identified.

The announcement was made during an international summit in Dubai, where President Pedro Sánchez emphasised the urgency of protecting children from the risks of digital exposure. The debate has already reached Barcelona's streets, where parents, educators and teenagers discuss the balance between freedom and safety on the internet.

In addition to the ban on social networks, the Government plans to introduce new obligations for digital platforms, with the aim of increasing transparency and accountability in the management of content and personal data. The consequences of this legislation will be felt both in homes and in the city's educational centres.

In recent years, concern over the excessive use of social networks among minors has grown in Barcelona, especially after several cases of bullying and mental-health problems linked to the digital environment. The new regulations seek to respond to these concerns and mark a before and after in young people's relationship with technology.

Pedro Sánchez, the current Prime Minister, has focused part of his political agenda on child protection and regulation of the digital environment. His leadership has driven debates about the responsibility of technology platforms and the need to adapt legislation to the challenges of the digital age. In Barcelona, these initiatives tend to generate intense social debate, reflecting the diversity of views on how to balance innovation, freedom and safety in urban life.