🏛️ Spain to ban social media for under-16s amid age verification challenges

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Spain will ban social media access for individuals under 16, as announced by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. This measure aims to enhance child protection online and includes a 'hate and polarization footprint' ranking for digital platforms. However, the proposal faces significant challenges, including effective age verification methods and political disagreements that have delayed the legislative process for two years. Critics warn that the measures could infringe on freedom of expression and raise concerns about government overreach in regulating digital content.

Key points

• Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced a ban on social media access for minors under 16.
• The proposal includes a 'hate and polarization footprint' ranking for digital platforms.
• Implementation faces challenges, including effective age verification methods.
• Political disagreements have delayed the legislative process for two years.

Links

• El Mundo: IU acusa a Ministerios del PSOE de "retrasar" su iniciativa sobre el veto a las redes sociales
• Europa Press: Elon Musk acusa a Sánchez de ser un "tirano" y un "traidor" con España por prohibir las redes sociales a menores de 16
• ABC: Pedro Sánchez se escuda en la protección de la infancia para intentar controlar las redes sociales
• El Mundo: El veto a las redes sociales lleva dos años bloqueado: pugna entre Bolaños y Rego mientras los partidos ignoran a los expertos
• 20minutos: Expertos alertan sobre el veto a redes en menores de 16 años: "Puede generar una falsa sensación de seguridad"
• EFE: La verificación de edad, el nudo gordiano del acceso de menores a las redes sociales - EFE
• El Mundo: La verificación de edad, el gran desafío para prohibir las redes sociales a los menores de 16 años

Facts

• The minimum age for social media access will be raised from 14 to 16.
• The Organic Bill for the Protection of Minors in Digital Environments is currently in Congress.
• The proposal includes a system to track hate speech and polarization on social media.
• Political disagreements have delayed the legislative process for two years.

Quotes

• Our children are exposed to a space in which they should never navigate alone... We will not tolerate it any longer; we are going to protect them against this digital Wild West — Pedro Sánchez
• The idea of limiting minors’ access to social networks may make sense. However, controlling and pointing the finger at platforms from public authorities is almost like creating a ministry of truth — Sergio Carrasco Mayans

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