Global Push: Countries Ban or Restrict Social Media for Under-16s

This global regulatory wave significantly impacts social media platforms, forcing them to implement stricter age verification and content moderation for younger users. The fragmented approach among nations creates a complex compliance landscape for tech companies, potentially driving platform design changes to mitigate harm. Industry participants should monitor legislative developments, particularly the EU's Digital Fairness Act, given its potential to set a global standard for children's online safety regulations.

The global push for stricter social media regulations for minors gained momentum following renewed calls from various stakeholders. A report by the UK's Office of Communications (Ofcom) in May 2026 indicated that 58% of children aged 8-17 reported encountering potentially harmful content online, per BBC News. This data further fueled the debate on age verification shortcomings, with a significant proportion of children reportedly circumventing existing age restrictions. Meanwhile, tech companies are responding to these pressures. In April 2026, Meta announced new parental supervision tools for Instagram and Messenger, allowing parents to set time limits and view their children's privacy settings, according to TechCrunch. Similarly, TikTok introduced enhanced content filtering options in March 2026, enabling users to filter videos with specific words or hashtags from their 'For You' and 'Following' feeds, as reported by Reuters. These platform-specific updates highlight an industry trend towards self-regulation and increased parental controls, even as legislative bodies worldwide continue to explore more stringent, mandated measures. The varying legal frameworks across jurisdictions present a challenge for global platforms, requiring tailored compliance strategies for each market.