Portugal has taken the first step toward banning social media access for children under the age of 13 and requiring parental or homeroom teacher consent for those aged 13 to 16.
In Portugal, a bill regulating children’s use of social media, introduced by the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD), was approved in parliament and referred to committee to be finalized.
Parliament approved the proposal—with votes in favor from the PSD, the Socialist Party (PS), the animal rights party PAN, and the Madeira-based Together for the People (JPP) party—which bans access to social media and other platforms for children under 13 and requires parental or homeroom teacher permission for those aged 13 to 16.
The Christian Democrats (CDS-PP), a junior coalition partner, along with the opposition Green Party, Livre, the Left Bloc, and one PS lawmaker abstained. The main opposition party Chega and the Liberal Initiative (IL) voted against the bill.
To Return to Parliament for Final Vote
The bill will now be discussed in a parliamentary committee before being brought back to the plenary for a final vote.
In its current form, the draft legislation calls for a complete ban on access to social networking platforms for children under 13. For those aged 13 to 16, access would be granted only after parental or homeroom teacher approval, through a digital key system that verifies age.
The proposal also предусматриes fines of up to €2 million for social media companies that fail to comply with the law.