Poland plans social media ban for children under 15; list of countries considering social media restrictions

The Polish government is preparing a new law that would ban children under the age of 15 from accessing social media, marking a significant effort to limit young people’s exposure to online platforms. Education Minister Barbara Nowacka said the draft legislation aims to improve the mental health and well-being of children, amid rising concerns about social media’s impact on youth development.

The proposed rules, which are expected to be presented by the ruling Civic Coalition party, would require social media companies to verify the ages of their users and prevent under-15s from using their services. Platforms that fail to comply could face financial penalties, with fines discussed as part of the draft law. The new regulations could take effect as early as 2027, according to Nowacka.

“We see the mental health of children and young people, we see a decline in their intellectual competence,” Nowacka said in an interview, stressing that the legislation is intended to address these growing problems. The details of how large penalties will be remain under discussion, she added.

Growing global trend in social media regulation

Poland’s move aligns with similar efforts in other countries to impose age-based restrictions on social media access. Countries including Denmark, Greece, France, Spain and the United Kingdom have explored comparable measures as governments reconsider how to protect minors from potentially harmful digital content. In December, Australia enacted a law banning children under 16 from holding social media accounts.

In the UK, proposals are advancing to restrict access for younger teens as part of broader online safety reforms, while debates continue across Europe about harmonizing age verification systems and safeguarding children’s digital experiences.

Age verification and platform responsibility

Under the proposed draft law, social media platforms would be legally responsible for confirming the age of users before granting access to their services. This responsibility reflects concerns that current systems often allow minors to bypass age restrictions with ease. Platforms could be fined if they fail to implement adequate verifications.

The legislation could put Warsaw at odds with major tech companies, including U.S.-based firms such as Meta Platforms (owner of Facebook and Instagram) and X (formerly Twitter), which have resisted similar restrictions in other countries. After Australia’s ban, some tech firms expressed concerns about how age verification and compliance obligations would be enforced.

Government and public debate

Supporters of the policy argue that restricting access for younger children will help reduce exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying and addictive design features common on social platforms. Critics, however, warn that blanket bans could limit opportunities for education and connection, and could be difficult to enforce in a world where digital access is nearly ubiquitous.

As parliament prepares to debate the draft bill, observers say the outcome will be closely watched — not only in Poland but across the European Union and beyond, as governments grapple with the balance between digital access and child protection.