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Children and Social Media: What Every Country Is Doing

Last updated: 25 June 2026 · 32 countries & regions

Governments around the world are introducing age restrictions on social media for children. This tracker follows every country that has passed a law, been granted powers to act, introduced legislation, or formally announced plans. A growing number are also moving to regulate AI chatbots — where they are, we flag it with an AI tag. Updated every week.

Wired Parents Tracker
What changed this week
Week of 25 June 2026
🇦🇪
UAE New Law in force
Cabinet resolution issued 18 June sets the minimum age for social media at 15. There is no parental-consent exemption, and no self-declaration; platforms have 12 months to comply. First Arab nation to legislate at this level.
🇬🇧
United Kingdom Updated Powers granted
The confirmed package also covers AI chatbots — 'romantic companion' bots must enforce 18+, with intimate features restricted for under-18s. Now flagged with an AI tag.
🇯🇵
Japan New Proposed
Added to the tracker. A ministry panel's 2 June draft urges stronger age checks but rejects a blanket age ban as "undesirable" — a major economy breaking with the Australian model.
6 Law in force
2 Powers granted
12 Bills in progress
12 Proposed
Law in force · 6 countries
🇦🇺 Australia
Under-16 social media ban — the first in the world. In March 2026, Australia amended the law to put the algorithm itself in scope. Under the new definition, a platform is age-restricted if it has a recommender algorithm and/or design features like like-counters or disappearing stories. The world's first age ban is now, in practice, a design-features ban. eSafety Commissioner has conceded the ban has been difficult to enforce and has not yet reduced harm or kept under-16s offline.
In force: 10 Dec 2025 · Amended: March 2026
🇧🇷 Brazil
Digital ECA (Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente Digital) signed September 2025. Bans social media for under-14s and requires parental consent for 14–16s. Platforms must implement age verification.
In force: March 2026
🇲🇾 Malaysia
Under-16 social media account ban enforced from 1 June 2026. Age verification via government ID (MyKad, passport, or MyDigital ID), with AI age-estimation as fallback. Applies to platforms with 8M+ users (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube); fines up to RM10M (~$2.5M). Existing users verified on a six-month rolling basis. The January 2026 date was the platform-licensing regime; the under-16 account ban itself began 1 June.
Enforced: 1 June 2026
🇮🇩 Indonesia
Age-gated approach: under-13s limited to children's platforms only; 13–15s restricted to lower-risk platforms; under-16s banned from high-risk platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox. Accounts deactivated from 28 March 2026. VPN circumvention reported within days of enforcement.
In force: 28 March 2026
🇬🇦 Gabon
Gabon published an ordinance on 8 April 2026 setting the digital age of majority at 16. Under-16s are allowed accounts only with parental consent. The age verification process requires users to provide their name, address, and personal identification number — significantly more intrusive than what Australia, the EU, or the UK have introduced. First African country to legislate at this level.
In force: 8 April 2026
🇦🇪 UAE New
The UAE Cabinet issued a binding resolution on 18 June 2026 setting the minimum age for social media at 15. Under-15s are barred from creating, using or operating personal accounts; 15- and 16-year-olds may use platforms only with enhanced protections applied to their accounts. Parental consent does not exempt a child, and self-declaration of age is disallowed in favour of digital-ID or biometric verification overseen by a Child Digital Safety Council. Platforms have up to 12 months to comply and are barred from serving children personalised ads. First Arab nation to legislate at this level.
Resolution issued: 18 June 2026 · Compliance: within 12 months
Powers granted · 2 countries
🇬🇧 United Kingdom +AI Updated
Prime Minister Starmer confirmed on 15 June 2026 that the UK will ban under-16s from social media, adopting the Australian model. The ban covers children born on or after 1 January 2009 and names Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X. The government says it will go further than Australia — adding restrictions on livestreaming and stranger contact on gaming platforms, with overnight curfews and limits on infinite scrolling under consideration for under-18s. The package also reaches AI chatbots: 'romantic companion' bots that simulate sexual relationships must enforce a minimum age of 18, with intimate functionalities restricted for under-18s more widely. Messaging apps (WhatsApp, Signal) and YouTube Kids are excluded. Implementing legislation is expected to pass by the end of 2026, with the ban in force by spring 2027. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has confirmed Bluesky will also be covered — a sign the six named platforms are a starting point, not the final list. The underlying statutory duty comes from the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026; the "Growing Up in the Online World" consultation drew 116,211 responses, with over 90% backing an under-16 ban.
Confirmed: 15 June 2026 · In force: spring 2027
🇹🇷 Turkey
Under-15 ban passed parliament 22 April 2026, published in Official Gazette 1 May; enters into force approximately 1 November 2026. Two-tier system: under-15s barred entirely; 15–17s limited to age-restricted versions with parental consent. Verification via the state e-Devlet portal, paired with a universal identity-verification requirement for all users. One-hour harmful-content takedown duty. Criticised by opposition and digital-rights groups as a speech-control measure.
Gazette: 1 May 2026 · In force: ~Nov 2026
Bills in progress · 12 countries
🇫🇷 France
Under-15 social media ban passed the National Assembly 27 January 2026 (130–21). The Senate adopted its own version on 31 March 2026, introducing a two-tier system: a blacklist of platforms deemed dangerous (maintained by regulator ARCOM) would be outright banned for under-15s, while other platforms would require parental consent. The two chambers must now reconcile their versions before a final vote.
Senate vote: 31 March 2026
🇩🇰 Denmark
Parliamentary agreement reached November 2025. Legislation expected mid-2026. Government launching a "digital evidence" app to support age verification.
Agreement: Nov 2025
🇳🇴 Norway
Prime Minister Støre announced on 24 April 2026 that the government will introduce legislation to ban under-16s from social media, with tech companies responsible for age verification. "We are introducing this legislation because we want a childhood where children get to be children," Støre said. The bill will be introduced to parliament by end of 2026. The move follows what the government described as "overwhelming" public demand.
Announced: 24 April 2026
🇵🇹 Portugal
Parliament approved legislation in February 2026. Details of age threshold and implementation timeline to be confirmed.
Parliament approved: 12 Feb 2026
🇪🇸 Spain
Prime Minister announced under-16 ban in February 2026. Proposed legislation also includes criminal liability for platform executives over hate speech. Parliamentary approval required.
Announced: Feb 2026
🇸🇮 Slovenia
Deputy Prime Minister announced plans to prohibit under-15s from accessing social media platforms including TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram. Legislation being drafted.
Announced: 6 Feb 2026
🇬🇷 Greece
Prime Minister Mitsotakis announced an under-15 social media ban on 8 April 2026 — notably via a message posted on TikTok. The ban takes effect 1 January 2027. Mitsotakis then wrote to the European Commission calling for an EU-wide age restriction with mandatory verification across all member states.
Announced: 8 April 2026
🇺🇸 US Federal +AI
KIDS Act (including SAFEBOTs Act on AI chatbot safety and AWARE Act) passed House Energy & Commerce Committee 5 March 2026, heading to full House vote. COPPA 2.0 passed Senate Commerce Committee the same week. Updated COPPA Rule took effect 22 April 2026 — separate parental consent is now required before companies can use children's data to train AI models.
Social media measure: bill in progress · AI rule (COPPA): in force 22 Apr 2026
🇺🇸 US State Level +AI
~78 AI chatbot safety bills active across 27 states. Oregon and Idaho chatbot bills signed into law April 2026. Tennessee signed law banning AI from presenting as mental health professionals. Massachusetts House passed a bill 129–25 on 8 April 2026 banning under-14s from social media and requiring parental consent for 14–15s, with an October 2026 effective date. Now returns to the Senate.
Active: April 2026
🇳🇿 New Zealand
Select committee final report published 6 March 2026 recommends an under-16 social media ban. Member's bill entered the parliamentary ballot — requires a draw before it can progress.
Committee report: 6 March 2026
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
File 25536, a bill banning social media accounts for under-14s and requiring parental consent for 14–17s, advanced unanimously out of committee on 14 April 2026. Age verification would be handled through Costa Rica's minor identification card (TIM). The bill now moves to debate and a full vote, with no date set.
Committee: 14 April 2026
🇨🇦 Canada +AI
The Digital Safety Act (Bill C-34) was introduced in the House of Commons on 11 June 2026, banning under-16s from social media accounts. Unusually, platforms can seek an exemption if they prove they have implemented sufficient safety standards for children — a conditional ban rather than a blanket one. The bill also regulates AI chatbots by creating a new Digital Safety Commission. Penalties of 3% of global revenue or C$10M (~$7.2M), whichever is greater. Culture Minister Marc Miller: "We're failing our children. Enough is enough."
Bill introduced: 11 June 2026
Proposed · 12 countries
🇩🇪 Germany
Expert committee studying options. Report expected autumn 2026. Chancellor Merz's conservatives proposed under-16 ban in February 2026, but coalition partners expressed hesitation. Germany prefers an EU-coordinated approach.
Under review: 2026
🇵🇱 Poland
Ruling party announced plans for age restrictions on 27 February 2026. No legislation introduced yet.
Announced: 27 Feb 2026
🇫🇮 Finland
Prime Minister expressed support for restrictions in January 2026. No formal legislation announced.
Support expressed: Jan 2026
🇪🇺 European Union
The Commission President signalled on 12 May 2026 that an EU-wide social media age limit could be proposed this summer. The EU's age verification app — open-source, using zero-knowledge proofs so users prove their age without sharing ID — is now technically ready and has been recommended to member states. Snapchat is under formal DSA investigation. Four adult content platforms found in preliminary breach for failing to stop minors accessing content. Greece's PM wrote to the Commission in April 2026 calling for an EU-wide restriction with mandatory verification.
Commission signal: 12 May 2026
🇧🇪 Belgium (Flanders)
The Flemish regional government announced a decree on 3 April 2026 introducing a legally binding minimum age of 13 for social media platforms deemed harmful to minors. Platforms including TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram will be required to implement age verification. Flanders' governing coalition rejected calls for a higher 15 or 16 age limit.
Announced: 3 April 2026
🇨🇳 China
"Minor mode" technical framework limits children's access and screen time on domestic platforms. Not a social media ban — applies to Chinese apps only.
Framework: ongoing
🇲🇽 Mexico
Government consultations launched. Proposals expected June 2026. No legislation introduced yet.
Consultation: 2026
🇦🇹 Austria
Three-party governing coalition announced agreement in principle on 27 March 2026 to ban social media for under-14s. Digitisation Minister Alexander Pröll said draft legislation will be drawn up by end of June 2026. The ban will target platforms using "addictive algorithms" and will be defined by criteria rather than a named platform list. No consensus yet between coalition partners on verification method.
Announced: 27 March 2026
🇮🇹 Italy
Bill in the Senate since May 2024. Has not progressed to a vote. No law yet.
Bill stalled: since May 2024
🇮🇳 India
Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh announced state-level restrictions in March 2026. Central government signalling a national law with a three-tier age approach: 8–12, 12–16, and 16–18.
State announcements: March 2026
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
The Ministry of Culture and Information has drafted a bill banning under-16s from creating accounts on social media and online platforms. Messaging apps are exempted. The draft has been through public consultation and a working group has been set up within the Ministry of Education. No date set for parliamentary introduction.
Draft bill: 2026
🇯🇵 Japan New
A Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications expert panel published a draft on 2 June 2026 recommending stronger age verification and feature restrictions for minors, plus a platform risk-disclosure and rating system. The panel explicitly rejected a blanket age-based ban as "undesirable", favouring platform-by-platform rules over a single age limit — a notable break from the Australian model. Final report due summer 2026; the Children and Families Agency will then decide whether legal revisions are needed, with changes possible by year-end and implementation as early as 2027.
Panel draft: 2 June 2026