Poland plans to ban social media for under-15s

(Patria) - Poland plans to enact a law that will ban social media for children under 15 and hold platforms responsible for age verification, said Polish Minister of Education Barbara Nowacka in an interview with Bloomberg News.

The draft law envisages penalties for platforms that remain accessible to younger users, Nowacka said, adding that this legal solution could come into effect as early as the beginning of 2027.

- We are aware of the mental health of children and young people, we are aware of the decline in their intellectual competencies - emphasized the minister, adding that the amount of fines that companies would have to pay is still being discussed.

Several European governments, including Denmark, Greece, France, Spain, and the UK, are considering similar restrictions due to claims that social media is harmful or addictive for minors.

The British government announced in January that it was considering restrictions to protect children online, after Australia introduced a pioneering law of this nature in December.

The initiative could bring Warsaw into conflict with American technology companies such as Meta or X, as some have opposed restrictions following the Australian ban last year.