Poland plans to introduce new legislation to ban social media access for children under the age of 15, with the government aiming to enforce the law by early 2027.
Education Minister Barbara Nowacka said the ruling Civic Coalition will present a draft outline of the proposed law on Friday.
The legislation will require social media platforms to implement strict age-verification systems and may impose fines on companies that allow younger users to access their services.
Nowacka said the government is concerned about the impact of social media on children’s mental health and intellectual development.
Authorities are still discussing the size of penalties that companies could face for failing to comply with the rules.
Several European countries are exploring similar restrictions. Governments in Denmark, Greece, France, Spain, and Britain have raised concerns about the harmful or addictive effects of social media on minors.
Spain has already announced plans to restrict social media access for users under 16. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said platforms will be required to introduce age-verification systems to ensure a safer digital environment for young people.
Meanwhile, social media companies, including Meta and X, could face growing regulatory pressure in Europe.
The proposed restrictions may create tensions with major tech firms that have previously opposed similar measures introduced in countries like Australia.
The debate over social media safety is also unfolding in the United States, where a civil trial in Los Angeles is examining whether platforms such as Meta and YouTube designed their services in ways that encourage addiction among young users.
Lawyers in the case argue that social media companies intentionally engineered features that keep children engaged for longer periods.
Nothing big. Our country banned common sense