Portuguese parliament okays law banning social media for under-16s

Child with smartphone. Illustrative photo: Pravmir

In February 2026, Portugal’s parliament passed a law raising the minimum age for independent access to social networks to 16, European Conservative reports.

Under the document, personal use of platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook will be permitted only for citizens over 16. Teenagers aged 13 to 16 will be able to register and use these services only with verified parental consent, while access for children under 13 is entirely prohibited. Messaging apps, including WhatsApp, are not covered by the law.

The new rules require the introduction of mandatory age-verification mechanisms, including the use of the national digital identity tool Digital Mobile Key. Technology companies are also obliged to curb the impact of algorithms that foster addictive behavior and to strengthen the protection of minors from violent and other harmful content, including material created using artificial intelligence.

Oversight of the law’s implementation will be carried out by the national communications regulator Anacom and the data protection commission CNPD. The initiative fits into a broader international trend toward tighter regulation of social platforms in order to safeguard the mental health of children and adolescents.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Belgium is set to ban social media for children under 15.

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