Australia banned under-16s from social media in November. Six weeks later, half of Europe is following.
If you’ve been watching what other countries do before making your own decision about social media, things just got clearer. Five European countries are advancing bans in 2026, and they’re moving fast.
Here’s what each country is doing:
Denmark: Under-15 Ban (Implementation 2026)
The rule: Social media banned for under-15s, likely with exceptions for 13-14 year olds who have parental consent.
Timeline: Government plans implementation as early as 2026. They’ve earmarked €21.4 million for 14 child online safety initiatives.
Enforcement: Denmark has a national electronic ID system and plans an age verification app.
France: Under-15 Restriction (September 2026)
The rule: Restricting social media for under-15s.
Timeline: Digital affairs minister Anne Le Hénanff wants legislation introduced in early 2026, with implementation by September.
Background: A parliamentary commission recommended an outright ban for under-15s and suggested a digital curfew for under-18s. President Macron’s been pushing for this since January.
United Kingdom: Under-16 Ban (Vote Expected This Week)
The rule: Australia-style under-16 ban.
Timeline: House of Lords expected to vote THIS WEEK on amending the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to include the ban.
Support: Over 100,000 emails sent to politicians this week by the Smartphone Free Childhood campaign. Cross-party pressure is building.
Government position: Despite the pressure, the Labour government responded in December 2024 that it was “not currently minded to support a ban for children under 16.” Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said the government is “looking closely” at how Australia’s ban performs but wants to see evidence first.
The gap: Strong public and cross-party support is running into government caution. The House of Lords vote will show whether Parliament can push the government to act.
Spain: Under-16 Ban Without Parental Override
The rule: Under-16s can’t access social networks, forums, communications platforms or “any virtual space with generative AI” without explicit parental consent. For “other cases” (unspecified), the minimum age is 14.
Additional: App stores would have to give parents verification rights over which apps children download.
Public support: 79% of Spanish parents agree with an Australia-style restriction (YouGov poll).
European Parliament: Age 16 Recommendation
The vote: 483-92-86 in favour of a non-legislative report backing minimum age 16, with 13-15 year olds allowed with parental consent.
Scope: Also calls for banning infinite scrolling, auto-play features and protecting minors from commercial exploitation.
Status: Non-binding, but signals clear direction from EU lawmakers.
Germany: Studying the Question
Status: Government asked a committee in November to examine whether a ban could work and how social media impacts German teens.
Timeline: Final report due autumn 2026.
What this means for parents:
If you’ve been thinking “maybe I should wait until my child is older” but feeling isolated because everyone else seems to be allowing it, you’re about to have company. Government policies validate what a lot of parents have been doing quietly: delaying access.
These bans don’t make your decision for you, but they do shift the baseline. When Denmark implements its under-15 ban, Danish parents won’t have to explain to their 13-year-old why they can’t have Instagram whilst everyone else does.
For parents outside these countries, watching how these policies unfold gives you information about what works. Does Denmark’s age verification app actually prevent children from accessing platforms? Do Spanish teens migrate to less-regulated apps? Does the UK’s approach reduce the pressure parents feel? Australia’s one month update shows what’s actually happening with enforcement.
The practical questions to consider:
If you’re deciding now, the trend is clear. Governments across Europe have concluded that waiting until 15 or 16 makes sense for most children. That doesn’t mean you have to follow that timeline, but it does mean you’re not being overly cautious if you choose to.
If you’ve already allowed access, these policies don’t require you to reverse course. But they might give you permission to tighten restrictions if you’ve been questioning whether that’s necessary.
If you’re in one of these countries, watch for implementation detailson age verification methods, whether platforms will offer chronological feeds matters and hoow enforcement actually works.
Finally, the shift isn’t just about age limits. Spain’s proposal to regulate AI platforms and the EU’s call to ban infinite scrolling suggest governments are starting to look at how these platforms are designed, not just who uses them. You don’t have to be a teenager to suffer poorer mental health as a result of social media and online activities. Many adults do.
Different countries are trying different approaches – Denmark at 15, others at 16, some allowing parental consent exceptions, others not. Watch which models actually reduce harm without just pushing children to less-regulated spaces. Virginia tried a different approach with 1-hour limits instead of outright bans.
Either way, the assumption that platforms and parents alone will solve this is over in Europe.
Sources:
UK:
Who will be next to implement an Australia-style under-16s social media ban? – CNBC, January 18, 2026
Which European countries are considering banning social media for children? – Euronews, December 23, 2025
Social Media Bans Fail to Protect Children – CEPA, January 16, 2026
Denmark:
Which European countries are considering banning social media for children? – Euronews, December 23, 2025
France:
Age assurance regulation for social media to go global in 2026 – Biometric Update, January 2026
Which European countries are considering banning social media for children? – Euronews, December 23, 2025
Spain:
Which European countries are considering banning social media for children? – Euronews, December 23, 2025
Germany:
Which European countries are considering banning social media for children? – Euronews, December 23, 2025
