Portugal joins growing EU push to tighten social media age limits Portugal joins growing EU push to tighten social media age limits
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In a significant move reflecting growing apprehensions regarding child safety online, Portugal has introduced legislation mandating parental consent for minors under the age of 16 to access social media platforms. This latest proposal, revealed on Thursday, positions Portugal alongside a number of European nations, including Spain, France, Denmark, and Greece, that are taking decisive steps to reinforce protections for young users.
The drafted law would require social media platforms to implement effective age-verification systems while complying with national child protection standards. The focus on bolstering these safeguards highlights the increasing recognition among European governments of the potential hazards posed by unrestricted social media use by children.
Earlier this month, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced intentions to elevate the minimum age for social media use from 14 to 16, likening "the current digital landscape to a 'Wild West' fraught with risks." In addition, Sanchez proposed holding technology executives legally accountable for failing to expunge illegal or harmful content, which includes child sexual abuse material and deepfake imagery created without consent.
Similarly, in France, a legislative bill recently cleared the lower house of parliament, which aims to prohibit children under 15 from accessing social media, pending Senate approval. President Emmanuel Macron has underscored the necessity for cohesive European action, stating that digital platforms possess the technical prowess to implement robust user age verification mechanisms effectively.
While various countries pursue parallel measures, the age thresholds have shown some divergence: both Denmark and Greece are advocating for a minimum age of 15, while Austria contemplates a threshold of 14. Italy, too, is addressing the issue, proposing new regulations governing social media use by minors, particularly in relation to child influencers.
This surge towards tightening age restrictions builds on a non-binding resolution passed by the European Parliament in November 2025, which recommended establishing a minimum age of 16 for unrestricted access to social media within the bloc, with parental consent allowed for younger teenagers. However, the European Commission has asserted that age limits remain a matter of national determining factors under the General Data Protection Regulation. Consequently, Brussels is in the process of developing an EU-level age-verification tool, adaptable by member states, although platforms will not be obligated to adopt it if they can demonstrate equally effective alternatives.
Since the enforcement of the EU's Digital Services Act in 2024, major platforms are now required to evaluate risks to minors and implement necessary mitigating measures. As social media scrutiny intensifies, regulators are ramping up efforts to ensure compliance.
Scientific research has played a pivotal role in shaping these policy discussions, with longitudinal studies revealing stark correlations between heavy social media usage and increased instances of anxiety, depression, and sleep disruption among adolescents. Some findings suggest that prolonged exposure to algorithm-driven content may adversely affect brain regions associated with impulse control and emotional regulation. However, experts urge caution in interpreting these results, emphasising that they establish correlation rather than causation. Notably, moderated and supervised engagement may yield social and creative benefits, while excessive and unsupervised use heightens risks.
Globally, momentum for stricter age regulations is evident. Australia has enacted a nationwide prohibition on social media access for individuals under 16, entrusting enforcement to the platforms themselves, making it the first country to implement such a law. Meanwhile, in the United States, lawmakers are investigating youth online safety, with various states filing lawsuits against tech companies for failing to adequately protect children from harmful content.
The United Kingdom has initiated a consultation process to consider introducing Australia-style regulations, although no formal bans have been set in place yet. In anticipation of these changes, leading social media platforms are actively enhancing their age verification systems. TikTok, for example, plans to introduce an automated age-detection mechanism in Europe, shifting from reliance on self-reported birthdates. This advancement will leverage a combination of algorithmic analysis and human review to identify accounts managed by children under 13.
As Portugal advances its legislative proposal and other European nations continue refining their measures, the momentum for tighter safeguards surrounding minors' use of social media platforms is unmistakably surging across the region.
Xinhua