In the wake of US social media verdicts, a look at what limits other countries have imposed for kids

The double jury verdicts this week confirmed long-standing concerns about the dangers of social media for young people. But the United States lacks federal regulations that can meaningfully address these harms.

On Wednesday, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube liable for harm caused to children using their services. A day earlier, a jury in New Mexico determined that Meta knowingly harmed the mental health of children and concealed what she knew about child sexual exploitation on her platforms.

Although parents and child advocates have applauded the moves, they say that without federal regulations to control the companies, platforms like Instagram, YouTube and TikTok are unlikely to implement meaningful changes. Many are pinning their hopes on the Kids Online Safety Act, a bill aimed at protecting children from the harms of social media, gaming sites and other online platforms. It won Senate approval in 2024, but has persisted since.

At the same time, other countries have implemented – or are planning – a range of restrictions on children’s online activities, from banning social media to requiring younger teenagers to link their accounts to those of their parents. Here’s an overview of how countries other than the United States regulate children and technology.

In 2024, Australia became the first country to exclude children under the age of 16 from social media. The law makes platforms – including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, Although many parents welcomed the move, some experts questioned the effectiveness of their age estimation methods (platforms are not required to ask users for government-issued IDs) and their effects on young people’s free speech, social connections and privacy. Critics also fear the ban will impact the privacy of all users who must prove they are over 16.

A Brazilian law aimed at protecting minors from addictive, violent and pornographic online content came into force this month, with experts calling it an important step in protecting children and adolescents.

Under the new law, children under 16 are required to link their social media accounts to a legal guardian to provide oversight. The legislation also prohibits platforms from using addictive features, like infinite scrolling and autoplaying videos. Digital services are also required to implement an effective age verification mechanism that goes beyond self-declaration.

Following in Australia’s footsteps, Indonesia will ban social media for children under 16 starting this month.

The regulation will mean children under the age of 16 will no longer be able to have accounts on “high-risk” digital platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox.

Implementation will begin gradually from March 28 until all platforms are compliant.

Indonesia will be the first country in Southeast Asia to restrict children’s access to social media.

Since January 2025, major social media and messaging platforms with at least 8 million users in Malaysia have been required to obtain a license as part of a broader tightening of state surveillance over digital platforms. Licensed platforms must implement age verification, content safety measures and transparency rules, reflecting the government’s desire to make the digital space safer. The country also plans to ban children under 16 from accessing social media starting this year.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced in February that the country planned to limit access to social media for children under 16, in a bid to protect young people from the harm of online content.

In January, France approved a bill banning social media for children under 15, paving the way for a measure that would come into force when the next school year begins in September. The bill would also ban the use of cell phones in high schools. The French government had already passed a law banning the use of telephones in all primary and secondary schools.

Denmark has introduced similar legislation to ban social media access to users under 15, while the UK said last month it would consider banning young teenagers from social media, as part of strengthening laws to protect children from harmful content and excessive screen time.