Is Europe About to Reshape Social Media for Teenagers?

European governments are increasing pressure on major social media platforms as concerns about child safety, AI-generated content and online addiction move to the center of public debate.

Spain has ordered prosecutors to investigate Meta, X and TikTok over the alleged spread of AI-generated child sexual images, while Ireland has opened a formal probe into X’s AI chatbot Grok over data processing and harmful content concerns.

At the same time, several European countries — including France, Spain, Denmark, Greece and others — are proposing restrictions or outright bans on social media access for teenagers. Germany and Britain are weighing similar measures.

The momentum follows Australia’s 2024 decision to ban social media for children under 16, which many policymakers see as a global turning point.

Under the European Union’s Digital Services Act, major platforms face fines of up to 6% of global annual turnover if they fail to curb illegal or harmful content. However, enforcement remains politically sensitive. U.S. leaders have warned against aggressive regulatory action that targets American tech companies, adding a geopolitical layer to the debate.