Should social media be restricted for under-16s in the Canary Islands?
Australia has become the first country to ban children under 16 from using social media, reigniting the debate over how these platforms affect young people’s mental health. The decision has also raised questions in the Canary Islands about whether similar measures could help protect children and teenagers locally.
Under the Australian model, responsibility lies with technology companies, and not the families. These companies are forced to block under-16s from accessing their services. Experts say this reflects growing concern that current safeguards are not working.
In the Canary Islands, the 2025 TRICO Study on technology use found that 17.1% of young people feel “addicted” to technology, meaning around one in six struggles to disconnect. Internet use among children aged 10 to 15 is almost universal, with most using platforms such as WhatsApp, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram.
Clinical psychologist Montse Fonoll warns that early and intensive use of social media can affect brain development, attention and learning. She says constant notifications and endless scrolling can also contribute to anxiety, low self-esteem and addictive behaviours. In clinical settings, she is seeing more cases of mental health problems linked to cyberbullying, grooming and exposure to inappropriate content.
Digital ethics specialist Sabina Hernández argues that the problem is not only how social media is used, but how platforms are designed to keep users online for as long as possible. She says children are particularly vulnerable to algorithms that promote likes, views and constant comparison.
Both experts agree that banning social media alone is not enough. They stress the need for digital education, family involvement and greater responsibility from technology companies to make platforms safer for young users.
In Spain, the current legal minimum age for social media use is 14, although the national government has proposed raising it to 16. With growing evidence of tech addiction and online risks, experts say digital education should start before children join social networks, helping them understand how platforms work, manage screen time and protect their privacy.
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