Spain plans to ban social media for under-16s
Listen to the story (Hong Kong accent)
Spain wants to stop children under 16 years old from using social media.
This is a new plan from the government. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez talked about this plan in Dubai.
He says the internet can be a scary place for young people. He wants to keep children safe from bad videos and mean people.
The new rules say social media companies must check a person's age. The law will also punish companies that share bad things to make money.
Spain is not the only country with this idea. Australia already has a ban. Other countries like France, Denmark and the UK are thinking about it too.
Some companies say it is hard to stop children. They say children might feel sad or lonely without the internet.
The company X is already in trouble in France. Elon Musk owns X, and he is not happy with Spain’s plan.
The Spanish Prime Minister wants the law to start very soon. He needs many people to vote for it. Spain could be one of the first countries to have these new rules.
Vocabulary18 words
- Children
- young people; kids; boys and girls; people who are not adults
- Social media
- websites and apps; places to talk online; Facebook, X, or Instagram 📱
- Plan
- an idea for the future; a set of steps; a design; what you want to do
- Government
- the leaders of a country; the group that runs a nation; the people in charge 🏛️
- Prime minister
- the top leader of a country; the head of a government; the main boss
- Keep safe
- to protect someone; to stay away from danger; to make sure no one gets hurt; to look after. 🛡️
- Mean
- not kind; unkind; cruel; a person who wants to hurt others 😠
- Rule
- a direction to follow; what you can or cannot do; a guide for behavior
- Check
- to look at something carefully; to see if something is correct; to test 🔍
- Law
- the official rules of a country; something everyone must follow; a legal rule ⚖️
- Punish
- to give a penalty; to make someone pay for doing a bad thing; to discipline
- Share
- to give to others; to post online; to let people see or use something
- Make money
- to earn cash; to get profit; to sell things for a price 💰
- Ban
- to stop something; to say "no" to an activity; to make something illegal 🚫
- Lonely
- feeling sad because you are alone; having no friends; unhappy by yourself ☹️
- In trouble
- when you do something wrong and get a penalty; facing a problem; in a bad situation ⚠️
- Own
- to have something; it belongs to you; to possess
- Vote
- to choose a leader; to pick an idea; to say "yes" or "no" to a new law 🗳️
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Spain _____ to stop children under 16 years old from using _____ media.
This is a new plan _____ the government. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez talked _____ this plan in Dubai.
He says the internet _____ be a scary place for young people. _____ wants to keep children safe from bad videos and mean _____.
The new rules say social media _____ must check a person's age. The law will also punish companies _____ share bad things to make money.
_____ is not the only country with this idea. Australia _____ has a ban. Other countries like France, Denmark and the _____ are thinking about it too.
_____ companies say it is hard to stop children. _____ say children might feel sad or lonely without _____ internet.
The company X is already in _____ in France. Elon Musk owns X, and he is not _____ with Spain’s plan.
The Spanish Prime Minister wants the law to _____ very soon. He needs many people to vote for it. Spain _____ be one of the first countries to have these new _____.
Discussion questions
- Do you think social media is a scary place for children? Why?
- Is 16 a good age to start social media, or is it too old?
- Should parents or the government decide which apps children use?
- Do you think teenagers will feel lonely if they cannot use the internet?
- Is it easy or difficult for a company to check a person’s real age?
- Do you agree with Spain's plan to ban social media for kids? Why or why not?
- If you were the Prime Minister, what rules would you make for the internet?
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