Spain plans to ban social media for under-16s
Listen to the story (Hong Kong accent)
Spain is planning to ban social media for children under the age of 16.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced this plan at a meeting in Dubai. He said the government wants to protect young people from danger online. He described social media as a place where children find addiction, violence, and harmful content.
This new plan has several rules. First, social media companies must use better systems to check a person’s age. They cannot just use a simple box that users click. Second, the law will make it a crime to use algorithms to spread illegal content for profit. The government also wants to create a system to track how digital platforms spread hate.
Spain is not the only country doing this. Australia was the first country to start a ban last year. France, Denmark, and Austria are also thinking about age limits for social media.
In the UK, the government is asking the public if they should start a ban for people under 16.
However, social media companies say these bans are difficult to do. They also say that bans might make some teenagers feel lonely.
Some companies are already in trouble. For example, officials are investigating Grok, an AI tool from the company X. In France, police recently searched the business offices of X to look for crimes.
Elon Musk, the owner of X, criticized the Spanish Prime Minister after the announcement.
Sánchez wants the laws to pass next week. This might be difficult because his government needs more votes in parliament. The main opposition party agrees with the ban, but another party disagrees.
If the law passes, Spain will be one of a few countries trying to control how children use the internet.
Vocabulary40 words
- Plan
- want; aim; to intend to do something
- Ban
- to stop something; to say "no" to an action; to make something not allowed 🚫
- Social media
- websites or apps where people share photos and talk to friends; online groups like Facebook or Instagram 📱
- Prime minister
- the leader of a country; the head of a government
- Announce
- to tell everyone; to say something publicly; to give news 📢
- Government
- the group of people who control a country; the leaders of a nation 🏛️
- Protect
- to keep safe; to stop someone from getting hurt 🛡️
- Danger
- something that can hurt you; not safe; a risk ⚠️
- Describe
- to say what something is like; to give details about a person or thing
- Addiction
- needing something too much; not being able to stop using something
- Violence
- fighting; hurting people; physical anger 👊
- Harmful
- bad for you; something that causes pain or damage
- Content
- things you see on the internet, like videos, photos, or writing
- Several
- more than two, but not many; a few; some.
- Rule
- A guideline or regulation; sometimes a law; A guide that tells us what we should or shouldn’t do; something we have to do or can’t do
- System
- a way of doing things; a machine or program that works together
- User
- a person who uses a service, app, or machine
- Law
- an official rule for a country; a rule that the police check ⚖️
- Crime
- an action that is against the law; doing something very bad or illegal 🚔
- Algorithm
- a set of rules or a process that computers follow to complete a task (When you search for something on Google, the- Google algorithm finds the best websites for you)
- Spread
- to move to many people; to cover a large area; to share quickly
- Illegal
- against the law; not allowed by the government; "no" from the police 🚫
- Profit
- extra money you make from a business; earning more than you spent 💰
- Track
- to follow; to watch where something goes; to find
- Digital platform
- a website or app; an online place for information
- Hate
- a very strong feeling of not liking someone; the opposite of love
- Age limit
- the youngest or oldest age allowed for something; a number for years lived
- Public
- all the people in a town or country; not private
- Lonely
- sad because you are alone; feeling like you have no friends
- In trouble
- when you do something wrong and might be punished; having a problem
- Official
- a person with a job in the government; a person in power
- Investigating
- looking for facts; trying to find the truth about a crime
- Search
- to look for something carefully; to check a place for evidence
- Owner
- the person that something belongs to; the boss of a company
- Criticize
- to say someone is wrong; to say bad things about an idea 👎
- Pass
- to officially accept a new law; to say "yes" to a plan
- Vote
- to choose an idea or a leader; to pick one thing in a group 🗳️
- Parliament
- the place where leaders meet to talk about laws; a group of government workers 🏛️
- Opposition party
- a group of leaders who disagree with the main leader; the "other" team in government
- Party
- a group of people with the same political ideas; an organized group in a country
Quiz
Answer key
1. To protect children from online dangers 2. He does not have enough votes in parliament 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Spain is _____ to ban social media for children under the age of _____.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez _____ this plan at a meeting in Dubai. He said the government _____ to protect young people from danger _____. He described social media as a place _____ children find addiction, violence, and harmful _____.
This new plan has several _____. First, social media companies _____ use better systems to check a person’s age. They _____ just use a simple box that users click. Second, the law _____ make it a crime to use algorithms to spread _____ content for profit. The government also _____ to create a system to track how digital platforms spread _____.
Spain is not the only _____ doing this. Australia was the first country to _____ a ban last year. France, Denmark, and Austria _____ also thinking about age limits for social media.
_____ the UK, the government is asking the public if _____ should start a ban for people under 16.
_____, social media companies say these bans are difficult to _____. They also say that bans might make some teenagers _____ lonely.
Some companies are already in _____. For example, officials are investigating Grok, an AI _____ from the company X. In France, police _____ searched the business offices of X to look for _____.
Elon Musk, the owner of X, criticized _____ Spanish Prime Minister after the announcement.
Sánchez wants the laws to _____ next week. This might be difficult because his government needs _____ votes in parliament. The main opposition _____ agrees with the ban, but another party disagrees.
_____ the law passes, Spain will be one of a few countries trying to control _____ children use the internet.
Discussion questions
- In your opinion, is 16 a good age limit for social media, or should it be lower or higher? Why?
- Do you agree with the companies that say a ban might make teenagers feel lonely?
- How can parents help keep their children safe online without using a government ban?
- Do you think it is possible for technology companies to truly check a person's age accurately?
- How has social media changed the way young people talk to each other in your country?
- If you were the Prime Minister, what rules would you make for the internet?
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