February 4, 2026 | 05:44 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Spanish government plans to ban access to social media for children under 16 as part of broader efforts to protect minors online and curb the misuse of digital platforms by major technology companies.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the policy on Tuesday while speaking at the Government Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He described today’s online environment as increasingly lawless and harmful to children.
“Social media has become a failed state, where laws are ignored, and crimes are tolerated,” Sánchez said, as quoted by Euronews. “We will protect them from the digital Wild West.”
Sánchez said the government would require digital platforms to adopt robust age-verification systems, emphasizing that these must serve as real barriers rather than simple checkboxes.
He added that the government will submit a bill next week to hold platform executives criminally liable for disseminating illicit content, while urging prosecutors to investigate illegal material on social media. The proposed legislation would also make the manipulation of algorithms a criminal offense.
“Disinformation does not come out of nowhere,” Sanchez said.
He cited alleged criminal activity on digital platforms, including claims that child sexual abuse material had been created using the artificial intelligence tool Grok or circulated on other social media networks.
Sanchez also pointed to what he described as disinformation spread by Elon Musk, the CEO of X, regarding Spain’s plan to regularize around 500,000 migrants.
“This is only the tip of the iceberg,” he warned. “We are going to defend our digital sovereignty against any foreign interference.”
Sanchez acknowledged that efforts to make digital platforms safer would face significant challenges.
“Social media companies are richer than many countries, including mine, but its power and influence should not frighten us,” he said.
While noting that the European Union is already moving toward tighter regulation, Sanchez said six European countries are seeking to further rein in social media platforms and will meet soon to discuss joint initiatives.
“Some will say that if we don’t like them, we can just not use them. They’re right. For many of us, that is still an option, but for our children and many citizens, it isn’t,” he said.
“Social media has become an essential part of their lives. We have to regain control. We need to ensure these platforms follow the rules like everyone else.”
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