Lisbon, Portugal: Portugal’s parliament has approved a bill that would require explicit parental consent for children aged 13 to 16 to access social media. The draft legislation, introduced by the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD), aims to protect children from cyberbullying, harmful content, and predatory behavior online.
Under the proposal, parents would use a public system known as the Digital Mobile Key (DMK) to grant consent. The system would also enforce the existing ban on children under 13 from accessing social media, video-, and image-sharing platforms, and online betting sites.
Tech providers would be required to implement an age verification system compatible with the DMK, and companies ignoring the rules could face fines of up to 2 percent of their global revenue. The bill passed the first reading with 148 votes in favor, 69 against, and 13 abstentions, though it could still be modified before the final vote.
PSD lawmaker Paulo Marcelo said the measure is not about prohibiting social media but about giving parents and families more control. “We have to protect our children…we intend to create a norm to give more power to parents and families, to accompany and control,” he said.
The move follows similar steps in other countries. France’s lower house recently backed a law banning children under 15 from social media amid concerns over bullying and mental health risks. In Australia, a world-first ban for under-16s on platforms including Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube came into effect in December.
Supporters of Portugal’s bill argue it addresses a regulatory gap that has allowed multinational digital platforms to set rules unilaterally, affecting children’s cognitive and emotional development.
