The European Pulse Forum is currently streaming live from Barcelona, shining a spotlight on pressing social issues across the continent.
According to a recent survey conducted by POLITICO, a significant majority of Europeans—three in four—believe that governments should enforce minimum age limits for social media usage. This poll, which covered six major EU countries, indicates a growing consensus on the need for regulation aimed at protecting minors.
Majority support for age limits
Half of the survey respondents advocated for a minimum age of 16 for social media accounts, while 25% supported a threshold between 13 and 15 years. Only 4% of participants argued against any age restrictions whatsoever, whereas 22% believed that such decisions should be left to parents.
This poll aligns with ongoing initiatives by various European governments to restrict children’s access to social media platforms. Notable leaders such as Spain’s Pedro Sánchez and France’s Emmanuel Macron are prominent proponents of these restrictions. Sánchez emphasized the need to shield minors from “the digital Wild West” during a statement made in February.
Government actions and public opinion
In a recent announcement, Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis revealed plans for a social media ban for individuals under 15, set to take effect in January 2027. Meanwhile, the European Commission is contemplating a comprehensive age restriction policy across the EU.
However, the implementation of these social media bans has not been without controversy. Critics argue that such measures may be ineffective and could infringe upon children’s rights. In an open letter issued in early March, 371 security and privacy specialists described these actions as “dangerous and socially unacceptable.”
The European Pulse survey, conducted by Cluster17 on behalf of POLITICO and beBartlet between March 13 and March 21, surveyed 6,698 individuals across Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and Belgium. Findings showed that Italy (84%) and Poland (83%) had the highest levels of support for age restrictions, followed by Belgium (76%). In Germany and Spain, 70% of respondents also favored such measures.
In France, opinions were more divided, with 69% favoring government-imposed restrictions and 31% opposing them. The French government is currently drafting legislation for a social media ban for users under 15, aiming for these restrictions to be in place by September.
Support for establishing 16 years as the minimum age for social media accounts was most prevalent among Italians (64%), followed by Spain (55%), Belgium (54%), Poland (53%), France (48%), and Germany (39%).
Germany recorded the highest percentage of individuals dismissing any age restrictions, with 7% of respondents indicating that they opposed such regulations. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has shown tentative support for a ban for those under 14, expressing “a lot of sympathy” for proposals from the Social Democratic Party regarding this issue. The German government has also launched an expert panel to provide recommendations in the near future.
The survey results are weighted to accurately reflect demographics such as age, gender, and geography across the six surveyed countries, providing a comprehensive view of public sentiment regarding age restrictions on social media.