Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez likens social media to a “failed state”
Life
Image: Geri Tech via Pexels
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has become the latest world leader to propose a ban the use of social media for people under the age of 16, arguing that it is necessary to protect children from the dangers of online platforms and to hold tech companies accountable for harmful content. He compared social media to a “failed state” where laws are ignored and criminal activities are tolerated.
Spain’s move follows similar trends in Europe, with France and Greece on the verge of introducing a comparable ban for children under 15. The UK is working towards a similar measure for under-16s. Australia became the first country to ban access to social media platforms for people under the age of 16. Accorind to a report by the BBC, so far the ban has received broadly positive response from young people and parents alike.
Across the world, debate over the effects of excessive screen time on children’s development and mental well-being is intensifying. Sánchez said that Spain is committed to protecting its young people from the alleged dangers of the “digital Wild West” and pointed to the creation of a coalition with other European countries to enforce cross-border regulation of online platforms.
The proposed legislation in Spain aims to enable parents to set boundaries on their children’s use of social media and to ease social pressure arising from the fear of missing out. Public opinion in Spain is in favour of the ban. Polls show an overwhelming majority supporting a ban on access to social media platforms for children under the age of 14.
However, not all experts agree on the harmful effects of social media on adolescents. Some argue that the benefits outweigh the risks and that responsible use can contribute to positive development.
X owner Elon Musk responded to the move with a series of personal attacks on Sánchez on his platform X, calling him a “tyrant” and a “traitor” to the Spanish people. He went on to accuse Sánchez of fascism and totalitarian leanings. Representatives of major technology companies, including Google, TikTok, Snapchat and Meta, have not yet commented on the proposed legislation in Spain.
Earlier this week representatives from Meta Platforms (parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp), Google, Meta, and TikTok went before the Dail Arts Committee to outline their safety measures for protecting young people from harmful content and the ability to create deepfake images. X – whose Grok chatbot is at the centre of global uproar over users creating sexualised images without consent – declined to attend.
Meanwhile, Sánchez announced plans for legal investigations into possible violations by the AI chatbot Grok, developed by Musk’s company, and by TikTok and Instagram, in relation to the generation of sexual content without consent, including images involving minors.
Business AM