Spain will ban social media platforms for children under the age of 16, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Tuesday at the World Government Summit in Dubai. Platforms will also be required to implement strict age verification systems to ensure compliance.

“Social media has become a failed state, where laws are ignored, and crimes are tolerated,” Sanchez said. “We will protect them from the digital Wild West.”

The Spanish government plans to introduce a new bill next week that will hold social media executives accountable for illegal and hateful content on their platforms. The legislation reflects growing concerns about the impact of social media on children’s mental health and safety.

Spain’s announcement follows Australia’s world-first social media ban for children under 16, which came into effect in December 2025. According to Australia’s internet regulator, companies have removed roughly 4.7 million accounts held by under-16 users to comply with the new law. Despite this, reports indicate that some children have found ways to bypass restrictions, including using facial distortion techniques to trick age verification systems.

Several other European countries are considering similar measures. The United Kingdom, Denmark, and France have all discussed potential regulations to restrict social media use among minors. Last month, French lawmakers approved a bill that would ban children under 15 from accessing social media platforms. French President Emmanuel Macron said, “Because our children’s brains are not for sale — neither to American platforms nor to Chinese networks. Because their dreams must not be dictated by algorithms.” Macron has requested that the legislation be fast-tracked, with debate in the Senate scheduled in the coming weeks.

Experts say these measures mark a growing trend in global regulation of social media, driven by concerns over privacy, mental health, and online safety. Sanchez’s comments emphasized the need for accountability among platform operators, noting that legislation will target executives who fail to address harmful content.

Digital safety advocates welcomed Spain’s announcement. “Protecting children online requires both strong regulations and enforcement,” said Maria Lopez, director of a Madrid-based children’s rights organisation. “Age verification is a critical step to ensure platforms cannot ignore their responsibilities.”

The Spanish government has not yet detailed the technical requirements for age verification, but analysts expect platforms will need to implement robust identity checks to continue operating legally in the country. Observers note that the success of such measures will depend on enforcement mechanisms and collaboration between governments and tech companies.

Spain joins a growing number of countries seeking to regulate social media use for minors. With similar initiatives underway across Europe and in Australia, lawmakers appear determined to set global standards aimed at protecting children from harmful content and giving parents more control over their online experiences.

At Web Summit Qatar 2026, where global tech leaders are debating AI and digital regulation frameworks, one of the most talked-about topics comes from an unexpected source: a rapidly growing social media platform called UpScrolled.

Launched last year, the app has already been downloaded millions of times and now ranks at the top of app stores in countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Its swift rise signals a growing appetite for social platforms that offer alternatives to the algorithms and data-driven strategies of major tech companies.

Speaking at the opening night of the summit, UpScrolled founder Issam Hijazi framed the platform as a response to the shortcomings of Big Tech. “Big Tech over the last couple of years has proven they’re not really in it for ethics. They prioritise profit over people, they sell user data, they design platforms to keep you addicted, and they don’t really care about your mental health or wellbeing,” he said.

UpScrolled allows users to share photos, videos, and text posts, scroll through feeds, and send direct messages, much like Instagram and X. However, Hijazi emphasized that the platform’s design prioritizes user wellbeing rather than engagement metrics. “Other platforms are designed to have us as the product because we are generating money for them. They designed the algorithm to keep you scrolling without any value. We don’t do that. We designed UpScrolled to let people log off,” he said.

The platform also promises freedom of expression, minimal algorithmic interference, and no shadow banning, presenting itself as an alternative during a period when public trust in mainstream social media is increasingly fragile. Hijazi linked this approach to broader concerns about digital transparency, noting that recent changes in TikTok’s US ownership had raised questions about content control, moderation, and user autonomy. “We cannot keep blaming the algorithm or the technology because there are people who are building this technology,” Hijazi said. “Behind the scenes, certain people train the algorithm to amplify certain things and suppress others.”

Despite the dominance of established tech giants, UpScrolled’s rapid adoption suggests there is space for platforms that respond directly to user concerns. Hijazi said the platform has drawn interest from investors aligned with its ethical approach. “There’s a lot of ethical people around the world who want to be part of our journey. They want to be part of our mission and our vision and what we’re trying to build,” he added.

UpScrolled emerged as a response to widespread dissatisfaction with mainstream social media, and Hijazi aims to maintain the momentum by continuing to refine the platform. With millions of users worldwide and growing investor support, UpScrolled seeks to position itself as a social media alternative built for people rather than profit.

Merz and Meloni’s updated Italo-German Plan of Action doubles down on legislative self-restraint, simplification, and better regulation. The real test now is the Omnibus push and the Better Regulation reform.

Last week, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome, where the two leaders signed an updated Italian-German Plan of Action aimed at strategic bilateral and European Union cooperation. The agreement spans multiple areas of both Italy-Germany collaboration and EU-wide initiatives, aligning closely with the European Commission’s strategic plans through 2029.

The plan emphasizes a continued push for “legislative self-restraint,” the simplification of existing rules, a shift in regulatory mindset, and reforms in public administration. While such goals are not new among EU leadership, the document underscores that achieving them requires not only a change in approach but also careful evaluation of both current legislation and new proposals.

Italy and Germany call for an “unbureaucratic, business- and SME-friendly implementation of EU initiatives,” advocating a “consequent simplification agenda.” The plan also stresses that proposals creating excessive administrative burdens should either be withdrawn or never tabled. Experts say these measures could significantly reduce the complexity of EU legislation if followed through, but note that successful implementation will depend on coordinated action at the Council of the EU and influence over the Commission’s agenda.

The two governments have committed to sharing positions on Omnibus proposals and jointly pursuing “meaningful simplification” and “tangible burden reduction” for startups, SMEs, and industry at large. This effort could encourage smaller EU member states to take similar stances. However, some left-leaning politicians and organisations have expressed skepticism about the Omnibus proposals, raising the possibility of resistance or delays in adoption.

The upcoming Better Regulation reform will serve as the first real test of the updated plan. The European Commission is currently running a Call for Evidence on the reform until February 4th, though only 23 responses have been submitted so far. Supporters argue that EU decision-making processes are too slow and resource-intensive, and reforms could allow for faster, more efficient legislative action.

Critics caution that if the guidelines are relaxed excessively, the consultation and evaluation processes could be weakened, allowing the Commission to select which stakeholders provide input and limiting member states’ ability to fully assess the necessity and impact of proposed legislation. This could reduce Italy and Germany’s influence in shaping EU laws during trilogue negotiations, undermining the very goal of smarter, more restrained legislative action.

The updated Italo-German Plan of Action represents a high-profile effort to streamline EU regulation and support business competitiveness. Its success will depend on both the political will to adhere to self-restraint principles and the practical implementation of simplification and regulatory reforms across the EU.