Social media ban – in which countries?
Since Australia became the first country in the world to implement a social media ban for children under 16 at the end of December 2025, voices calling for such a ban have grown louder in other countries, particularly within the European Union. The following countries are frequently mentioned in media reports: Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Slovenia, Czech Republic, the United Kingdom or Germany.
According to a survey in the IPSOS Education Monitoring 2025, a global majority of people in all countries support a social media ban for those under 14. The specifics of this ban—which sites should be banned, the age limit, and the methods used—can vary from country to country. It is clear that enforcing the ban is technically challenging. Initial experiences in Australia show that circumvention of the ban remains possible. Therefore, some advocates argue that problematic platforms should be regulated rather than the users themselves. Others believe that parents and society in general have a responsibility to promote healthy social media use.
Education Worldwide has compiled a small press review as well as some reports with survey results and statistics that show how the idea of ​​a social media ban is being discussed and implemented in different countries.
International, EU-wide, several countries
- Majorities in all countries now support banning under-14s from using social media
As well as more detailed information with statistics in the report itself, chapter "Education, technology – and the future"
Ipsos Education Monitor 2025 - To ban or not to ban social media for minors?
Euractive, 16.02.2026 - Which European countries are considering banning social media for children under 16?
Euronews, 23.12.2025 - Children should be at least 16 to access social media, say MEPs
News European Parliament, Press Release 26.11.2025 - REPORT on the protection of minors online (2025/2060(INI)) [pdf]
Rapporteur to the European Parliament: Christel Schaldemose
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, 04.11.2025
Information on individual countries
Australia
- Australia has banned social media for kids under 16. How does it work?
BBC, 23.01.2026 - Social media age restrictions
eSafety Commissioner, Australian Government - Social media ban
Unicef Australia - Europe looks to Australia's social media ban for Kids
Deutsche Welle, 18.02.2026
Denmark
- Denmark plans to severely restrict social media use for young people
Associated Press (AP), 11.12.2025 - Denmark introduces social media ban for children under 15 with parental exemptions
The Copenhagen Post, 07.11.2025
France
- France’s under-15 social media ban: 5 things to know
Politico, 28.01.2026 - Teens underwhelmed by France's social media ban
France24/AFP, 27.01.2026
United Kingdom (UK)
- UK eyes rapid ban on social media for under 16s, curbs to AI Chatbots
Reuters, 15.02.2026 - Research Briefing: Proposals to ban social media for Children
House of Commons Library, UK Parliament, 09.02.2026 - Lords back UK social media ban for under-16s
BBC, 21.01.2026
Czechia
- Nearly 90% of Czechs would back limited access to social media for Teens
Radio Prague International, 16.02.2026 - Czechia weighs under-15 social media ban as government debate intensifies
digwatch, Geneva Internet Platform, 09.02.2026
Spain
- Sánchez defends social media regulations against Elon Musk’s “threatening” reaction
Agencia EFE, S.A. (spanische Nachrichtenagentur), 18.02.2026 - Is 16 a good age to limit the use of social media?
El País, 04.02.2026 - Spain announces plans to ban social media for under-16s
BBC, 03.02.2026
News worldwide
- New on Education Worldwide: Social media ban – In which countries?
- New publication "The Education World Champions" - Singapore: The Art of Adaptive Teaching (German School Portal 19.02.26) [courtesy translation]
- UNHCR Education Report 2025
-
OECD Digital Education Outlook 2026.
Exploring Effective Uses of Generative AI in Education.