03.02.2026 18:31
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that they will ban access to social media for children under the age of 16 and will impose stricter controls on digital platforms. Additionally, it was reported that a monitoring system related to hate on social media will be established.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that they will impose a ban on access to social media networks for children under the age of 16.
SPAIN WILL BAN SOCIAL MEDIA FOR UNDER 16s
Sanchez stated in a speech at the World Government Summit held in Dubai that they will impose a ban on access to social media networks for children under the age of 16, and that they will take additional measures to increase oversight of digital platforms and hold their administrators accountable for violations on these networks.
Emphasizing the importance of making digital platforms a healthy space, Sanchez argued that social media platforms need to increase their controls and take measures that will genuinely prevent children's access.
MONITORING SYSTEM AGAINST HATE AND DISCRIMINATORY SPEECH
The Spanish Prime Minister also announced that a monitoring system will be established against hate and discriminatory speech on social media networks. Sanchez, who announced that Spain will join the "Digital Preparedness Coalition" established with five European countries to progress in a coordinated and effective manner regarding tighter, faster, and more effective regulation of social media platforms, stated that the first meeting will take place in the coming days.
CRITICISM OF ELON MUSK BY SANCHEZ
On the other hand, Sanchez criticized Elon Musk, the owner of the American companies X and SpaceX, emphasizing that social media has turned into a place where "an image of a failed state is attempted to be conveyed, laws are disregarded, crimes are tolerated, misinformation is truly more valuable, and half of the users are subjected to hate attacks."
Sanchez expressed his sadness that Elon Musk "used his personal account to spread disinformation about the Spanish government's sovereign decision regarding the legalization of half a million immigrants, despite being an immigrant himself."
"THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES SHOULD NOT SCARE US"
Sanchez stated that social media companies are "rich and powerful" in many countries, including Spain, but added, "However, their power and influence should not scare us. Because our determination is greater than their wealth. Spain will show zero tolerance in this matter and will guarantee digital sovereignty."
GOVERNMENT TOOK A STEP FOR THE BILL
Sanchez announced in previous months that they would make legal changes holding social media site administrators accountable, and the details of this were determined in today's Cabinet meeting. The government will present a bill to the parliament that legally holds social media site administrators responsible for any violations committed on digital platforms and grants the prosecutor's office the right to investigate these violations.