Poland plans to ban social media access for children under 15 under proposed new legislation. Education Minister Barbara Nowacka said platforms will face fines if they fail to verify users’ ages. The move could reshape digital access for minors and pressure global tech companies.
The ruling Civic Coalition will present the draft outline on Friday. Nowacka said the law could take effect by early 2027. She told Bloomberg News the government wants platforms to take responsibility for strict age verification. Authorities are still discussing the size of financial penalties for violations.
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Nowacka said the proposal responds to growing mental health concerns among children. She pointed to declining intellectual performance and rising exposure to harmful content. According to officials, the measure aims to create a safer digital environment. The government argues that young users cannot navigate online platforms alone.
Several European governments have explored similar restrictions. Countries including Denmark, Greece, France, Spain and United Kingdom are considering tighter rules. Spain recently proposed banning social media for teenagers under 16. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has called for stronger safeguards across Europe.
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However, the initiative may put Warsaw at odds with US tech firms such as Meta and X, owned by Elon Musk. Meanwhile, a civil trial in Los Angeles involving Meta and YouTube could set a legal precedent on platform liability. Plaintiffs allege companies engineered addictive systems targeting children.