Spain and Greece Propose Teen Social Media Bans, Sparking Elon Musk's Fury
In a significant move that has ignited controversy across Europe and drawn sharp criticism from tech billionaire Elon Musk, Spain and Greece have proposed sweeping bans on social media access for teenagers. The announcements came during the World Governments Summit in Dubai, where Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez outlined his government's plan to prohibit social media use for individuals under 16 years old.
European Nations Take Hardline Stance Against Social Media
Spain's proposed legislation represents one of the most restrictive measures against social media platforms in Europe. Prime Minister Sánchez declared that his administration would create a comprehensive law to hold social media executives personally accountable for hate speech circulating on their platforms. This dual approach of banning access while increasing corporate responsibility marks a dramatic shift in how European governments are addressing digital safety concerns.
Greece is reportedly close to announcing a similar prohibition targeting children under 15, according to a senior government source. These developments position Spain and Greece alongside other European nations like Britain and France, which are also considering tougher regulations on social media platforms. The moves follow Australia's landmark decision in December 2025 to become the first nation to prohibit social media access for children younger than 16.
Elon Musk's Explosive Reaction
The world's richest man and owner of X (formerly Twitter), Elon Musk, reacted with fury to Sánchez's announcement. In a series of posts on his platform, Musk launched a scathing attack against the Spanish leader, calling him a "tyrant and a traitor to the people of Spain" in his initial response. Approximately ninety minutes later, Musk escalated his criticism further, labeling Sánchez as "the true fascist totalitarian."
Musk's outrage appears particularly focused on how these measures might affect his companies and platforms, though representatives from major tech firms including Google (part of Alphabet), TikTok, Snapchat, and Meta did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding Spain's proposed regulations.
The 'Coalition of the Digitally Willing'
During his address in Dubai, Prime Minister Sánchez revealed that Spain has joined five other European countries in what he termed the "Coalition of the Digitally Willing." This alliance aims to coordinate and enforce cross-border digital regulation, with their first meeting scheduled in the coming days. While Sánchez did not name the other participating nations, he emphasized that "this is a battle that far exceeds the boundaries of any country."
The Spanish leader framed the proposed ban as part of a broader effort to protect children from what he described as the "digital Wild West." He stated emphatically, "Our children are exposed to a space they were never meant to navigate alone... We will no longer accept that."
Growing Concerns About Digital Impact on Youth
Governments and regulators worldwide are increasingly examining the impact of screen time and social media exposure on children's development and mental wellbeing. The recent explosion of AI-generated content has further complicated these concerns, with public outcry over reports that Elon Musk's Grok AI chatbot generated non-consensual sexual images, including depictions of minors, fueling debate about online safety risks.
In Spain, the proposed regulation would provide parents with clear legal backing to set digital limits for their children and potentially ease social pressure on young people worried about missing out on online interactions. Diana Diaz, director of the ANAR Foundation for at-risk children and adolescents, welcomed this aspect of the proposal.
Mixed Reactions and Implementation Challenges
Public opinion in Spain appears largely supportive of stricter social media regulations for children. According to an Ipsos poll on education published in August 2025, approximately 82% of Spaniards believed children under 14 should be banned from social media platforms, representing a significant increase from 73% in 2024.
Miguel Abad, a 19-year-old student in Madrid, expressed support for the measure, stating, "It's a good measure to encourage children to play with each other and not be on their mobile phones in parks, which I think is terrible, to be honest."
However, not all experts agree that social media universally harms adolescents. Jose Cesar Perales, a professor in experimental psychology at the University of Granada, noted there was no unanimous agreement on this issue within the scientific community.
Implementation challenges have already emerged in Australia, where social media companies deactivated nearly 5 million accounts belonging to teenagers within weeks of that country's ban taking effect. Snapchat has raised concerns about potential limitations in age verification technology and the possibility of users switching to unregulated messaging apps, suggesting that such bans "leave significant gaps that could undermine their goals."
Legal Accountability and Next Steps
Prime Minister Sánchez announced that Spanish prosecutors would explore ways to investigate possible legal infractions by Elon Musk's Grok AI, as well as by TikTok and Instagram (part of Meta). The proposed social media ban would be implemented as part of amendments to an existing bill on digital protection for minors currently being debated in Spain's parliament.
As Europe grapples with balancing digital innovation with child protection, the moves by Spain and Greece represent a significant escalation in regulatory approaches to social media platforms. The strong reaction from Elon Musk highlights the tension between government regulation and tech industry interests that will likely define this debate for years to come.
