Under 16? In Portugal, social media now comes with conditions — and parental approval.
Portugal’s parliament has approved new legislation restricting social media access for children under 16, joining a growing list of countries tightening digital rules for minors.
Under the new law, the minimum age for autonomous access to social networking platforms, video-sharing services and open communication services will rise from 13 to 16. Children aged 13 to 16 will only be allowed to create and use accounts with express and verified parental consent. Those under 13 will be barred entirely from accessing platforms, services, games and applications covered by the legislation.
The restrictions apply to major platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Messaging services such as WhatsApp, widely used by families for communication, are not included.
The bill requires companies to implement age-verification mechanisms. For users between 13 and 16, account creation must be linked to Portugal’s Digital Mobile Key or a similar identification system that confirms age without publicly exposing additional personal data.
Lawmakers from the Socialist Party said platforms must also introduce features to reduce minors’ exposure to violence, explicit content, addictive gaming elements and manipulated media.
Oversight of the law will fall to Portugal’s National Communications Authority and the National Data Protection Commission. During parliamentary debate, opposition lawmakers raised concerns about enforcement, privacy protections and the possibility that young users could bypass restrictions using VPNs. Some critics also warned that the measure could infringe on personal freedoms.
Portugal follows similar moves elsewhere. Australia has enacted strict age-verification requirements for under-16s, while France recently approved limits for users under 15. Legislative efforts are also underway in Denmark, Italy and Spain, reflecting broader European concern over the impact of social media on children’s mental health and development.
