Spain to ban social media access for under-16s, PM Sanchez says

Spain is set to implement a ban on social media access for children under the age of 16, as announced by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. This decision aligns Spain with a growing number of countries in Europe that are taking measures to restrict minors' access to online platforms. The announcement was made during the World Governments Summit in Dubai, where Sanchez criticized social media as a "failed state" characterized by ignored laws and tolerated crime. He emphasized the need for digital governance and accountability for social media companies, particularly in light of recent incidents involving harmful content and privacy violations. The forthcoming regulations are part of a broader initiative aimed at holding social media companies accountable for issues such as hate speech, social division, and illegal content. Sanchez highlighted specific concerns, including the generation of sexualized images of children by X's AI chatbot Grok and allegations of Meta "spying" on Android users. He pointed out the integral role that social media plays in the lives of young users and argued that the best way to protect them is to "take back control" of their online experiences. The new regulations will be enacted next week, marking a significant step in Spain's efforts to regulate social media usage among minors. This move reflects a wider trend in Europe, where stricter approaches to regulating social media are being adopted. The initiative aims to create a safer online environment for children and to mitigate the negative impacts of social media on young users.