Faced with digital risks, more and more countries are restricting children's access to social networks.

From Australia to Europe, governments are multiplying initiatives to limit minors' access to social networks, believing that digital platforms can have harmful effects on the mental health, safety and development of young users.

This trend has accelerated in recent months with the adoption or consideration of new regulations aimed at imposing stricter age limits. Authorities in several countries say that children are exposed to inappropriate content, online harassment, addictive behaviors, and potentially dangerous interactions with strangers.

Australia is among the most advanced countries in this area. The Australian government recently implemented a ban on social media access for those under 16, requiring platforms to strengthen their age verification systems. This measure has become a benchmark for several Western governments.

In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced similar legislation expected to come into effect next spring. The new rules will target platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, and YouTube.

In several European countries, authorities are also examining measures to better protect minors online. Some proposals include stricter age verification, restrictions on recommendation algorithms, and limitations on the collection of children's personal data.

Tech giants, including Meta Platforms and Alphabet, are at the center of the debate. Governments are asking them to implement more safeguards to protect young users, while the companies are highlighting the parental control tools already available on their platforms.

Proponents of these restrictions believe they will reduce the risks associated with anxiety, depression, cyberbullying, and screen addiction. Critics, however, point to the technical difficulties of age verification and express concerns about potential infringements on privacy and freedom of access to information.

As the debate intensifies globally, the issue of regulating minors' use of social media has become a key digital policy challenge for many governments. Decisions made in the coming years could profoundly transform how children access online platforms.