Countries that have banned social media for teenagers — See the world map

In December, Australia became the first country in the world to ban social media use for children under 16. The measure restricts access to platforms such as TikTok, YouTube (owned by Alphabet), and Instagram and Facebook (owned by Meta), amid growing concerns about the effects of social media on young people’s health and safety.

Here's a list of countries and companies are doing to regulate access to social media.

Where countries have or are considering restricting teenage social media usage

Dig deeper:

AUSTRALIA
A landmark law requires major social media platforms to block users under 16 starting December 10, 2025. Companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($35.3 million).

AUSTRIA
Austria plans to ban social media use for children under 14. The government said in March that draft legislation would be finalized by June, according to Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler and digitisation minister Alexander Proell.

BRAZIL
Brazil’s Digital Statute of Children and Adolescents took effect on March 17. It requires users under 16 to link their social media accounts to a legal guardian and prohibits addictive features like infinite scroll.

RELATED: Meta scam ad lawsuit alleges company profited billions while misleading users

BRITAIN
Britain is considering an Australia-style ban on social media for children under 16, along with stricter safety rules for AI chatbots, technology minister Liz Kendall said in February.
In addition, the government will test bans, curfews, and app time limits in 300 households to study the effects on sleep, family life, and schoolwork.

CHINA
China’s cyberspace regulator has introduced a "minor mode" that enforces device-level and app-specific restrictions, limiting screen time based on age.

DENMARK
Denmark announced in November that it would ban social media for children under 15, though parents may allow access for children as young as 13.

RELATED: Australia says Meta, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube fall short on enforcing child account ban

FRANCE
France’s National Assembly approved a bill in January to ban social media use for children under 15, citing concerns about bullying and mental health. The measure still needs Senate approval before a final vote.

GERMANY
In Germany, children aged 13–16 can use social media only with parental consent, though child protection advocates argue these safeguards are inadequate.

GREECE
Greece will ban social media access for children under 15 starting January 1, 2027, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on April 8.

INDIA
Karnataka became the first Indian state to ban social media for children under 16 in March. Goa and Andhra Pradesh are considering similar measures.
India’s chief economic adviser also called for age restrictions in January, describing platforms as "predatory" in keeping users engaged.

INDONESIA
Indonesia plans to restrict social media access for users under 16. Beginning March 28, accounts belonging to minors on high-risk platforms—such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and Roblox—will be gradually deactivated.

ITALY
Children under 14 must have parental consent to create social media accounts, while those 14 and older can sign up without it.

MALAYSIA
Malaysia announced in November that it will ban social media use for children under 16 starting in 2026.

NORWAY
Norway’s government said it will introduce a bill by the end of 2026 to ban social media use for children under 16, with tech companies responsible for verifying users’ ages.

POLAND
Poland’s ruling party is drafting legislation to ban social media for children under 15 and to require platforms to verify users’ ages.

PORTUGAL
Portugal approved a bill in February requiring explicit parental consent for users aged 13–16. Companies that violate the rules could be fined up to 2% of their global revenue.

SLOVENIA
Slovenia is preparing legislation to ban social media use for children under 15, Deputy Prime Minister Matej Arcon said in February.

SPAIN
Spain plans to ban social media access for minors under 16 and require platforms to implement age verification systems, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in February. It remains unclear whether the proposal will pass the lower house.

TURKEY
Turkey passed a law on April 23 restricting social media access for children under 15. The law also introduces broader platform regulations and promotes the creation of controlled digital environments for younger users.

UNITED STATES
The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) bars companies from collecting personal data from children under 13 without parental consent. Several states have introduced laws requiring parental approval for minors’ social media use, though many face legal challenges on free speech grounds.

Teenage use and social media 

Why you should care:

For years, social media companies have disputed allegations that they harm children’s mental health through deliberate design choices that addict kids to their platforms and fail to protect them from sexual predators and dangerous content. 

Some researchers do indeed question whether addiction is the appropriate term to describe heavy use of social media. Social media addiction is not recognized as an official disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the authority within the psychiatric community.

In Los Angeles, a jury found both Meta and YouTube liable for harms to children using their services. In New Mexico, a jury determined that Meta knowingly harmed children’s mental health and concealed what it knew about child sexual exploitation on its platforms.

While it’s too soon to tell if this week’s outcomes will lead to fundamental changes in how social media platforms treat their young users, the dual verdicts signal a changing tide of public perception against tech companies that is likely to lead to more lawsuits and regulation.