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First modification: 02/05/2026 - 17:13 Last modification: 02/05/2026 - 17:13

The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, announced this week that his executive will promote by law the prohibition of the use of social networks for minors under 16 years of age. Similar measures have been taken by countries such as Australia, France or the United Kingdom, but should teenagers be prohibited from using networks or is it a wrong measure? How is a ban of this type made effective? Are there better alternatives? We analyze it with the experts in El Debate de France 24.

The announcement has reopened a complex debate that crosses mental health, digital education and individual freedoms.

Those who defend the ban argue that early and uncontrolled use of social networks is linked to problems such as anxiety, addiction, misinformation and bullying.

Read alsoWill banning social networks for minors be effective in protecting them from the algorithm?

In El Debate de France 24 we analyze this proposal taking into account that it raises doubts about its viability and effectiveness, as well as about the role that families, schools and the technological platforms themselves should assume.

Is this law an effective solution or just a political gesture in the face of a much deeper problem? How is a ban made effective? Are there other viable alternatives?

For Professor Enrique Dans, specialist in Innovation and Technology, the initiative falls short and warns that the problem goes beyond age.

It points out that social networks systematically fail to comply with European legislation, especially in terms of privacy, and defines them as “an authentic Persian market in which users are sold and spied on”, which is why it raises the need for much stricter regulation.

For her part, María Paz Prendes Espinosa, professor of Educational Technology, questions the effectiveness of the prohibitions and rules out that it is an educational failure.

"The ban is not going to work" and remembers that "in Spain the networks are already banned for children under 14 years of age and, even so, many teenagers continue to use them, which shows that the solution is not to prohibit."

Both experts agree on the importance of addressing the phenomenon comprehensively, combining legislation, education and family support, as well as demanding greater responsibility from technology companies.

While the trend to restrict minors' access to social networks advances in Europe, the debate remains open: is it a problem that can be solved with laws or with greater support? What is the role of family and school?

From Murcia and Madrid in Spain, we are accompanied by:

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