LISBON, Portugal: Portugal’s parliament on Thursday approved, at first reading, landmark legislation that places new restrictions on children’s access to social media, marking one of Europe’s most concrete steps so far to regulate minors’ online activity.
Under the bill, children aged 13 to 16 will require explicit parental consent to access social media platforms. The proposal was introduced by lawmakers from the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD), who say the measure is essential to protect children from cyberbullying, harmful content and online predators.
To implement the system, Portugal will rely on a public digital authentication tool known as the Digital Mobile Key (DMK), which parents will use to grant or deny access.
The mechanism will also help enforce existing rules that already prohibit children under 13 from using social media, video- and image-sharing platforms, or online betting websites, according to Reuters.
Technology companies operating in Portugal will be required to introduce age-verification systems compatible with the DMK, ensuring that platforms comply with the new legal framework.
The bill passed with 148 votes in favour, 69 against and 13 abstentions. Lawmakers stressed that the text can still be amended before a final vote in parliament.
Portugal’s move comes amid growing international concern over the impact of social media on children’s mental health and development. In France, the lower house of parliament last month backed legislation to ban children under 15 from social media.
Meanwhile, Australia implemented a world-first ban in December, barring under-16s from major platforms including Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube.
The Portuguese draft law argues that a lack of regulation has allowed multinational digital platforms to set rules unilaterally, with significant consequences for children’s cognitive and emotional development, particularly through early or excessive exposure.
It adds that over the past two decades, social media platforms have taken on roles traditionally played by families and schools, without adequate oversight.
“We have to protect our children,” said PSD lawmaker Paulo Marcelo ahead of the vote. “We don’t intend to prohibit for the sake of prohibiting. We intend to create a norm that gives more power to parents and families to accompany and control.”
Under the proposed rules, technology companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to 2 per cent of their global revenue.
