1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
In focus
IranUkraineGerman politics
Latest audioLatest videos
Live TV
Digital WorldSpain

Spain mulls protecting teens from 'digital Wild West'

Sofia Christensen
February 4, 2026

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has announced plans to ban social media for youths under the age of 16, following in the footsteps of Australia. Elon Musk reacted to the plans with insults on his platform X.

https://p.dw.com/p/584UK

Spain plans to ban social media for under‑16s, joining a growing push across Europe after Australia's crackdown. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has warned of online "addiction" and "manipulation," promising to hold tech executives accountable and investigate platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Elon Musk's Grok.

Reactions in Spain have been mixed, with teens wary and many adults supportive.

Skip next section Similar stories from Spain

Similar stories from Spain

People march during a demonstration to protest high housing costs in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday, April 5, 2025. One of the banners held up reads "Lower the prices"

Spaniards rally against housing crisis

Thousands of people have taken part in protests across Spain, demanding action over a lack of affordable housing.
SocietyApril 5, 202502:23 min
A group of irregular migrants shortly after their arrival on the Spanish island of Mallorca.

Migrant arrivals hit new record high in Spain

The popular holiday island of Mallorca is about to become a new hotspot for irregular migrants to enter Europe.
MigrationMarch 3, 202503:01 min
A young man climbs a high chain-link fence while 3 policemen in riot gear approach on the other side on a platform lifted by a crane.

Ceuta: Spain's North African exclave sees migration surge

The Spanish exclave of Ceuta on Morocco's northern coast is a major entry point for migrants seeking to reach the EU.
MigrationSeptember 18, 202402:52 min
Show more
Skip next section More on Digital World from Europe

More on Digital World from Europe

A girl is lying in bed with a cell phone.

Austria sends 70,000 kids on a three‑week smartphone detox

No scrolling, no messaging for three weeks. Austria's Gen Alphas had to find new ways to stay amused. Did they succeed?
Digital WorldMarch 25, 202601:32 min
DW | Shift | KI-gesteuerte Drohnen & Schwarmintelligenz

Automated drone swarms, the beginning of AI-driven warfare

AI can create combat drone swarms that are controlled by a single soldier. How does this work?
Digital WorldMarch 23, 202602:29 min
The Shift show logo is superimposed on an image showing an angular glass or plastic tube on a circuit board

Drones are changing the war in Ukraine

Drones are one of the most dangerous weapons being used in the war in Ukraine.
Digital WorldMarch 20, 202602:53 min
Show more
Skip next section More on Digital World from around the world

More on Digital World from around the world

DW Close Up Program Guide Sendungslogo

Help, we've been hacked!

Ransomware poses an existential threat to businesses.
Digital WorldApril 6, 202628:34 min
SHIFT | Technologie & Landwirtschaft | Übersichtsmotiv zur Sendung

The future of farming

Robots and AI are increasingly taking over physically demanding work in agriculture.
Digital WorldApril 2, 202612:34 min
An illustration photo showing a smartphone displaying social media applications with a no under 16 sign in the background

Social media bans: What it means for you

Governments around the world are trying to ban social media for kids. Here's what you need to know.
Digital WorldApril 2, 202604:25 min
Show more