Thursday 12/February/2026 – 07:55 PM
The Portuguese parliament has approved a bill requiring explicit parental consent for children aged 13 to 16 to access social media, in one of the first concrete legislative steps in Europe to impose such restrictions.
According to the bill, a system known as a mobile phone digital key would be used by parents to give consent, which would also help enforce the current ban on children under 13 from accessing digital social media, video and photo sharing platforms or online betting sites, according to Reuters.
Restrictions on children’s use of social media
A few days ago, the French House of Representatives supported legislation prohibiting children under the age of 15 from using social media, amid growing concerns about cyberbullying and its risks to mental health.
Australia is the first country in the world to ban those under the age of 16 from using social media platforms, including Facebook (META.O), opens a new tab, Snapchat (SNAP.N), opens a new tab, TikTok and YouTube (GOOGL.O), opens a new tab, which came into effect in December.
In Egypt, the House of Representatives, represented by the Communications and Information Technologies Committee, is currently discussing the state’s approach to preparing a new draft law regulating children’s use of social media applications and websites.
These discussions come within the framework of the state’s efforts to protect children from potential dangers on the Internet, including inappropriate content, targeted advertisements, and misuse of personal data. The law aims to establish clear controls and effective mechanisms that ensure a safe digital environment for children.
These discussions are considered an important step towards organizing digital work in Egypt in line with rapid technological developments, and contribute to protecting children and adolescents from digital violations and risks, while promoting a culture of safe and responsible use of the Internet.
