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The European Union is preparing to unveil proposals aimed at curbing addictive features on social media platforms for minors, according to the Oman Observer, as more than a dozen nations worldwide advance similar restrictions. The Oman Observer reported that the measures reflect mounting evidence of harm to children’s well-being from prolonged exposure to algorithmic content and unsafe interactions. Officials in multiple jurisdictions have cited studies linking heavy usage to anxiety, depression and disrupted sleep patterns among young users. The trend began gaining momentum after Australia enacted the world’s first nationwide prohibition.
Australia became the first country to ban social media for users under 16 in December 2025, the Oman Observer noted in its coverage of the global movement. Platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and X must prevent minors from creating or maintaining accounts or face fines reaching A$49.5 million. The Australian government introduced the Online Safety Amendment Act after public pressure and data highlighted rising youth mental health issues tied to online activity. Enforcement began on December 10, 2025, setting a precedent that other nations have since followed.
The United Arab Emirates established a minimum social media age of 15 in June 2026, becoming the first Arab country to impose such a limit, according to regional reports aggregated by the Oman Observer. Children under 15 are barred from creating, using or operating personal accounts, while those aged 15 and 16 face enhanced safeguards such as content filters, interaction limits with strangers, screen-time controls and mandatory parental supervision. Social media companies received 12 months to comply with age-verification requirements and prohibitions on using children’s data for targeted advertising. The UAE government framed the resolution as a step to protect young users from inappropriate content and excessive use.
Greece announced plans to ban social media access for children under 15 starting January 1, 2027, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a statement reported across international outlets. The United Kingdom followed with its own under-16 prohibition announced in June 2026 by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, extending beyond core platforms to include livestreaming and certain gaming sites. Indonesia began enforcing its under-16 ban in March 2026, while Austria, Denmark and France have advanced legislation targeting ages 14 or 15. These European and Asian measures align with a broader push that the Oman Observer described as unprecedented in scope.
Concerns driving the legislation stem from data compiled by the World Health Organization and national health bodies, which show that more than 90 percent of children aged 9 to 13 use at least one social media platform. The WHO figures indicate 32 percent of children under 16 report negative feelings after social media sessions, with girls disproportionately affected by unhappiness, encounters with strangers and extended gaming with unknown users. Additional research from the UK’s NHS and Pew Research Center points to average daily usage exceeding four and a half hours on weekdays for school-age teenagers. Governments have pointed to cyberbullying, exposure to harmful material and addictive design as primary risks justifying the age thresholds.
Implementation varies by jurisdiction, with most laws requiring platforms to deploy robust age-verification systems while imposing substantial penalties for repeated violations, according to compilations published by TechCrunch and Gulf News. Companies must disable underage accounts, prevent circumvention and avoid behavioral profiling of minors, the regulatory frameworks state. In several cases, exceptions exist for parental consent in limited circumstances, though the core prohibitions remain firm. The collective actions signal a shift toward treating 15 or 16 as a digital age of majority across multiple regions.
