Global Map: Bans and Limits on Minors' Access to Social Networks

Countries adopt bans or limits for minors on social networks: Australia pioneers, EU Kids Act, restrictions elsewhere, and Brazil's guardian-linked account law.

Meta description: Countries adopt bans or limits for minors on social networks: Australia pioneers, EU Kids Act, restricted countries, and Brazil's guardian-linked account law.

From Australia to Brazil, governments are adopting bans or limits on minors' access to social networks, focusing on age verification and sanctions for platforms. Measures vary from total prohibition to integrated controls and the obligation to link accounts to guardians, sparking debate on effectiveness and privacy, according to ANSA.

Key countries overview — social networks, minors, ban, age verification

Australia: from the end of 2025, minors under 16 are prohibited from having accounts on social networks. Heavy fines are planned for platforms that do not implement the blocks, and the regulator eSafety states that more than 80% of youths aged 10 to 15 can circumvent blocking mechanisms, according to ANSA and eSafety itself.
Malaysia and Indonesia: adopted a total ban for minors under 16, according to ANSA reporting.
China: there is no total ban; the model adopted is the "youth mode", which limits usage time and hours for groups like 8–16 years old, and implements integrated controls between devices and apps. This approach prioritizes usage restrictions and internal verification.
Turkey and the United Arab Emirates: imposed restrictions for minors under 15, with verification requirements and access limits.
Brazil: new legislation requires that the account of minors under 16 be linked to a guardian, making the legal guardian responsible for the account and for managing its settings. The measure changes privacy practices and account management among Brazilian families.
United States: there is no single federal law prohibiting minors; the landscape is marked by state legislation, federal proposals, and measures by companies (e.g., Meta's recent youth protection policies), as reported by ANSA.
European Union: the European Commission approved the so-called EU Kids Act, focusing on age verification on digital platforms and rules specific to minors. The proposal increases attention to age-checking technologies and data protection.
Italy: the topic is under political debate, with no definitive law approved as reported by ANSA; any future changes will need to consider concerns about effectiveness and fundamental rights.

Impacts, challenges and points to watch — age verification and enforcement

Effectiveness of prohibitions: the high rate of workarounds of restrictions questions the practical effectiveness of legal prohibitions. >80% of youths who bypass blocks in Australia (per eSafety) is an example cited by ANSA to illustrate this problem.
Enforcement and penalties: many laws provide for severe fines for platforms that fail to comply. In practice, enforcement and results depend on local regulatory capacity, international cooperation, and the technical tools used by companies.
Age verification: the central point of these initiatives. Solutions vary from integrated modes (China), linking the account to a guardian (Brazil), to EU verification technologies. There are controversies about effectiveness, costs, privacy, and risk of discrimination—for example, requirements that force the submission of documents may exclude or expose vulnerable youths.
Relevance for Brazilians: the Brazilian law requiring linking minor accounts to guardians affects families, including descendants of Italian emigrants in Brazil who follow citizenship news and Italian topics. Parents and guardians should review privacy settings and digital account management, remembering that local rules define compliance. See also reports on Life in Italy and updates in Italy News.

What to watch next — policy and technology

Technical implementation: platforms will need to develop reliable age-verification methods that balance effectiveness and data protection. Adoption of modes specific to minors or guardian authorization processes will be decisive.
International cooperation: differences between regimes (total prohibition vs. integrated modes) make regulatory alignment essential. The European Union and countries like Australia have pursued normative leadership, which may pressure global providers.
Rights and protection: digital rights groups and privacy experts warn about risks of controls that expose sensitive data; the challenge is to protect minors without violating fundamental rights.

Conclusion

Governments are taking different paths to limit minors' access to social networks—from total prohibition to guardian-linked accounts or restricted modes—but practical effectiveness depends on technology, enforcement, and balancing protection with privacy. For Brazilians, the obligation to link underage accounts to guardians alters family social-network management and requires attention to settings and current legislation. To follow developments, readers can consult the Italy News section and stories on Italian Citizenship.