Several countries have implemented or debated measures to limit children's and teenagers' access to social media, citing impacts on mental health and privacy. In Argentina, experts emphasize the need for digital education and structural regulations beyond simple bans. The issue involves not only child protection but also the platforms' data-based business model.
In 2025 and 2026, countries like Australia imposed a total ban for those under 16, with fines for companies failing to verify age. Spain announced a similar measure, while France and Denmark advance limits, and the European Union debates a 'digital age of majority.' In Argentina, legislative projects exist along those lines, given the high screen penetration among minors.
Javier Pallero, a technology policy analyst, criticized the bans for arriving 'too late.' 'For years it was not considered an urgency, and when something arrives late and is legislated quickly, bad ideas like age verification are chosen,' he stated. Pallero warned that platforms, based on the 'extraction and exploitation of personal data,' could use verification to gather more information, such as biometrics, without altering their business model. This risks internet anonymity, essential for sensitive searches or criticisms, and could turn companies into 'a kind of civil registry' under state delegation, especially in authoritarian contexts.
Silvina Casablancas, a doctor in Pedagogy and specialist in Educational Technology, emphasized the school's role as a 'bulwark' for teaching digital citizenship. Based on FLACSO research on 9- to 12-year-olds, she found inequalities in protection tools, with none mentioning digital citizenship. 'The school is the ideal place to provide tools on how to protect oneself and grow in the digital society,' she said. She stressed family involvement and fostering critical thinking against algorithms and toxic content, like hate speech affecting adolescent identity.
Experts agree that restrictions mark a turning point, but without critical education and regulations on data protection and competition, measures will be mere patches. Argentine families show concern, recognizing that previous approaches no longer suffice.
