THE Rock is set to follow the UK’s social media ban for under-16s, but will Spain ever pass its own legislation?
According to GBC, Gibraltar’s government is ‘very likely’ to follow in the UK’s footsteps and ban social media for under-16s.
The UK government announced a social media ban for under-16s on Monday and it is expected to come into force by spring 2027.
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The UK government has specified that Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and X will be included in the ban.
GBC reports that the Rock’s government shares the concerns raised by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall.
The Government told the outlet that it is waiting to see the proposed legislation, but expects to be in a position to pass the ban at the same time as the UK.
However, across the border in Spain, progress on a social media ban has stalled.
Spain’s premier Pedro Sanchez first introduced legislation to restrict minors’ access to digital platforms.
He later fleshed out the plans and announced plans to ban social media for under-16s in February this year.
Speaking at a government summit in Dubai, Sanchez vowed to protect children from the ‘digital Wild West’.
He added: “Today, our children are exposed to a space they were never meant to navigate alone.”
Sanchez also described social media as a place of ‘addiction, abuse, pornography, manipulation and violence’ and announced plans to criminalise algorithms which promote illegal content.
His plans drew criticism from X owner and tech-billionaire Elon Musk who described Sanchez as a ‘tyrant and traitor to the people of Spain’.
Following the speech, the November legislation was amended to include the under-16s ban in March 2025, and was fast-tracked by the government in May.
However, despite its fast-track designation, the bill has remained stalled in Parliament with Sanchez failing to secure the absolute majority needed to pass the bill.
While the measure has the backing of the opposition People’s Party (PP), it has been strongly opposed by Vox.
Sanchez has urged political parties to support the bill to ensure it ‘passes with a broad majority.’
The bill, however, remains stalled in parliament with no clear timeline for when it will pass or when the ban will come into force.
As the UK and Gibraltar move ahead with plans to ban social media for under-16s, Spain’s proposed legislation remains stuck in parliamentary deadlock.
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