International, Defence and Summits · 4 February 2026
Spain announces social media ban for children under 16 at World Government Summit
Exam-focused facts from the 4 February 2026 current affairs briefing.
Key facts
- Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a ban on social media platforms for children under the age of 16 at the World Government Summit (WGS) in Dubai.
- The Spanish government will require platforms to implement age verification systems and introduce a bill to hold social media executives accountable for illegal and hateful content.
- Australia implemented a world-first social media ban for children under 16 on 10 December, leading to the removal of approximately 4.7 million accounts.
- French lawmakers approved a bill banning social media for children under 15, which is scheduled for discussion in the Senate.
- The United Kingdom (UK) and Denmark are also considering legislative measures to restrict social media access for children.