Karnataka govt proposes social media ban for users under 16: Countries that have imposed stricter rules for kids and teens

social media

• Karnataka proposes banning social media for kids under 16.
• Australia, France, Denmark, Spain, and US share similar restrictions.
• China, North Korea, Iran block foreign social media platforms.

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Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has proposed banning social media access for children under the age of 16, adding India to a growing list of regions considering restrictions for young users. The announcement was made during the presentation of the Karnataka state budget for 2026–27. The proposed measure aims to address concerns about the impact of excessive smartphone and social media usage among minors. Globally, several governments are introducing bans, age limits, and parental consent rules to regulate how children and teenagers access online platforms. Here is the complete list of countries that have stricter rules for social media access for kids and teens or have banned it for them. 

Australia

Australia has already implemented one of the strictest restrictions on youth social media access. The country introduced a ban preventing individuals under the age of 16 from using several major social media platforms. The law came into effect on December 10, 2025.

The restriction applies to platforms such as TikTok, X, Instagram and Snapchat. Enforcement of the rule is handled by the country’s eSafety Commissioner.

France

France is also moving toward tighter controls. The French National Assembly approved a bill in January 2026 that seeks to prohibit individuals under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms.

The legislation requires platforms to implement age-verification systems. However, the bill still requires approval from the Senate before it becomes law.

Denmark

Denmark has proposed a framework that combines age limits with parental consent. The government announced an agreement in November 2025 to introduce a minimum age of 15 for social media use.

Under the proposal, children aged 13 and 14 will be allowed to access social media platforms only with parental consent. Authorities plan to enforce the rule using Denmark’s national electronic identification system.

Spain

Spain has also proposed a ban on social media access for minors under the age of 16. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the plan in February 2026.

The proposed legislation would require platforms to introduce age-verification systems and includes provisions that could hold platform executives accountable for compliance failures.

United States

In the United States, regulations on social media use by minors are implemented at the state level. States including Utah, Texas and Arkansas have passed laws requiring parental consent for minors to open or maintain social media accounts.

The age threshold differs by state, with some rules applying to users under 16 and others extending restrictions up to age 18.

Broader government controls on social media

In some countries, governments impose broader controls on social media platforms themselves. China, North Korea and Iran restrict access to several foreign social media platforms through state-controlled internet systems.

The increasing number of restrictions shows that governments are exploring different approaches to regulate social media access for children and teenagers, ranging from parental consent requirements to full bans.