Social Media Bans for Minors

Kilpatrick Townsend


June 18, 2026 Update on Social Media Bans for Minors by Katherine S. Kubik International Bans In December 2025, Australia was the first country to implement a ban on individuals under 16 years of age creating accounts with social media platforms and suspending existing accounts for those under 16 years of age. The Australian ban includes penalties of up to $32,000,000 USD for serious or repeat offenders. While these types of bans can be circumvented with the use of a virtual private network (VPN), Australia is not alone in pursuing this type of restriction. The United Kingdom recently announced that it will seek to impose a social media ban for those under 16 years of age by spring of 2027. Laws to ban access to social media for children under 16 are being considered in Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia and Spain. Danish, French, Greek, Polish, Slovenian and Turkish lawmakers are also considering regulations that would restrict those under 15 years of age from creating accounts on social media platforms and would require suspension of any accounts for those under 15 years of age that had previously been created. State Restrictions States in the United States have also sought to impose restrictions on minors’ ability to create social media accounts. Colorado, Connecticut, Louisiana, Texas, Maryland, Utah, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Mississippi, Minnesota, Virginia, Nebraska, Arkansas and Ohio have all implemented regulations that require age verification and/or parental consent for minors to create a social media account. The future of these restrictions is in doubt given First Amendment protections for freedom of speech in the United States. Industry groups have brough lawsuits challenging these regulations and the restrictions in most states have been permanently enjoined or are under injunction pending litigation. Next Steps Social media platforms should be aware of the restrictions in the United States and monitor the outcome of litigation challenging these restrictions. If a social media platform has an international presence, monitoring the status of bans on those under 15 or 16 creating social media accounts is essential. Platforms do not enjoy the First Amendment protections abroad. We recommend seeking local counsel in those countries to evaluate regulatory developments. We work with partner firms in those areas to support clients’ international needs. ×

June 18, 2026 Update on Social Media Bans for Minors

International Bans

In December 2025, Australia was the first country to implement a ban on individuals under 16 years of age creating accounts with social media platforms and suspending existing accounts for those under 16 years of age. The Australian ban includes penalties of up to $32,000,000 USD for serious or repeat offenders. While these types of bans can be circumvented with the use of a virtual private network (VPN), Australia is not alone in pursuing this type of restriction. The United Kingdom recently announced that it will seek to impose a social media ban for those under 16 years of age by spring of 2027. Laws to ban access to social media for children under 16 are being considered in Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia and Spain. Danish, French, Greek, Polish, Slovenian and Turkish lawmakers are also considering regulations that would restrict those under 15 years of age from creating accounts on social media platforms and would require suspension of any accounts for those under 15 years of age that had previously been created.

State Restrictions

States in the United States have also sought to impose restrictions on minors’ ability to create social media accounts. Colorado, Connecticut, Louisiana, Texas, Maryland, Utah, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Mississippi, Minnesota, Virginia, Nebraska, Arkansas and Ohio have all implemented regulations that require age verification and/or parental consent for minors to create a social media account. The future of these restrictions is in doubt given First Amendment protections for freedom of speech in the United States. Industry groups have brough lawsuits challenging these regulations and the restrictions in most states have been permanently enjoined or are under injunction pending litigation.

Next Steps

Social media platforms should be aware of the restrictions in the United States and monitor the outcome of litigation challenging these restrictions. If a social media platform has an international presence, monitoring the status of bans on those under 15 or 16 creating social media accounts is essential. Platforms do not enjoy the First Amendment protections abroad. We recommend seeking local counsel in those countries to evaluate regulatory developments. We work with partner firms in those areas to support clients’ international needs.