Instagram, TikTok and Facebook: Which European countries want to ban social media for minors?

Published on 17/04/2026 - 10:04 GMT+2

Although countries astir the satellite are cracking down connected the usage of societal media for the youngest successful society, usage of the platforms remains precocious among young adults.

In 19 of the 27 EU countries, much than 90% of young radical aged 16 to 29 said they usage societal media networks successful 2025, according to the latest Eurostat figures.

The highest shares were recovered successful Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark and Finland, portion the lowest were registered successful Italy, Germany and Luxembourg.

After Australia banned societal media for under-16s successful December, European nations are present debating their ain restrictions.

For instance, MPs successful France precocious voted to block entree for under-15s, with President Emmanuel Macron hoping it volition beryllium successful unit by September.

Slovenia and Portugal person besides drafted bills that would prohibit children under-15s and under-16s from accessing societal media, respectively.

In Portugal, entree limitations volition screen societal networks specified arsenic Instagram, Facebook, oregon TikTok, but not, for example, WhatsApp, which is utilized by galore parents to pass with their children.

In addition, astatine slightest 8 much subordinate states are astatine antithetic stages of banning societal media for children, portion Germany's ruling enactment has besides passed a question to artifact entree for those nether 14.

In contrast, Estonia is the lone EU state that openly opposes specified a move.

For Tallinn, this attack volition not "actually lick the problems" arsenic "kids volition find precise rapidly the ways to spell astir and to inactive usage societal media", according to the Estonian acquisition curate Kristina Kallas.

A European solution

While a afloat societal media prohibition for children crossed the bloc is presently not connected the cards, the EU is taking steps to effort to boost online information measures.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced connected 15 April that a European property verification app volition soon beryllium disposable for citizens to use.

"We indispensable support our children successful the online world, conscionable arsenic we bash successful the offline world. And for that, we request a harmonised European approach," she said during the 2nd Special Panel connected kid online information gathering the pursuing day.

The app, which volition beryllium compatible with some mobile devices and computers, volition necessitate users to upload their passport oregon ID paper to corroborate their property anonymously erstwhile accessing online platforms.

The strategy is based connected "zero-knowledge proof", meaning societal media users volition beryllium capable to verify their property without sharing idiosyncratic information with the platforms.

Currently, France, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Spain, Cyprus and Ireland are "piloting the improvement of the app" and program to integrate it into their nationalist eID wallets, specified arsenic France Identité successful France.