Is 16 a good age to limit the use of social media?

"Spain is the latest country with plans to place limits on the age of use for social media. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Tuesday that the country will prohibit access to social networks for those under 16, and will require digital platforms to incorporate effective age verification systems. This follows in the footsteps of Australia, which introduced similar regulation in December, and which France and Portugal are planning to adopt as well."

"Eight out of ten students in Spain get their first cellphone at age 11, and almost all young people between the ages of 10 and 20 (92.5%) are registered on some social network, according to the UNICEF report Childhood, Adolescence and Digital Wellbeing, published last November. The study warns that 5.7% of children and teens have excessive and uncontrolled online activity, which interferes with their daily lives and is associated with symptoms of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts."

"Among experts in the digital and educational fields, some believe that limiting access to social networks will allow teenagers to become more mature in facing risks, while others demand that age verification be done securely and efficiently. But others question the arbitrary nature of the age limit, arguing that in some countries, at that age, one can already drive, vote, or have completed compulsory education."

Spain plans to prohibit access to social networks for under-16s and will require platforms to implement effective age verification systems. Australia has introduced similar rules, and France and Portugal are planning comparable measures. Experts are divided: some argue that access limits foster maturity, others insist on secure, efficient age checks, and some question the arbitrariness of the age threshold given legal adult-like rights in some countries. The discussion also covers minors' usage patterns, consumed content, popular browsing times, and whether platform design should be regulated. UNICEF data show early cellphone adoption and notable rates of excessive online activity linked to mental health symptoms.

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