Global Regulatory Trends: Social Media Bans For Minors Signal A New Digital Frontier

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

February 18, 2026

Worldwide, governments are taking unprecedented measures to shield young people from identified risks in the digital space. Following Australia’s groundbreaking move, several nations are grappling with the challenges posed by social media on the mental and physical well‐being of minors.

Australia Sets The Benchmark

In December 2025, Australia became the first country to enforce a nationwide social media ban for children under 16. The regulation restricts access to major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch and Kick. Messaging services such as WhatsApp and YouTube Kids are excluded from the policy. Authorities require companies to apply strong age-verification systems rather than self-reported data, with fines reaching up to AUD 49.5 million, or approximately USD 34.4 million, for violations.

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Denmark’s Upcoming Legislation

Denmark is preparing legislation that would ban social media access for users under 15. Announced in November 2025, the initiative is backed by both governing and opposition parties and could become law by mid-2026. At the same time, the Ministry of Digital Affairs is developing a digital identity application that incorporates age-verification tools to support enforcement.

France’s Legislative Move

French lawmakers approved a bill in late January 2026 aimed at reducing excessive screen time by restricting social media access for children under 15. Supported by President Emmanuel Macron, the measure is awaiting final Senate deliberation before a concluding vote in the lower chamber.

Debate In Germany

Recent discussions among German conservative leaders, including Chancellor Friedrich Merz, have explored proposals to limit social media use for children under 16. However, resistance from center-left coalition partners suggests that achieving consensus on a full ban remains uncertain.

Greece’s Imminent Announcement

Reports from early February indicate that Greece is close to announcing restrictions on social media access for children under 15. As officials finalize the proposal, policymakers and industry representatives are closely monitoring the potential economic and social implications.

Malaysia’s Bold Proposal

In November 2025, the Malaysian government declared its intention to prohibit social media use for individuals under 16, with enforcement expected to begin within the year. The move reflects a broader global shift toward tighter digital regulation designed to safeguard younger audiences.

Slovenia’s Draft Legislation

Slovenia is drafting legislation that would restrict social media access for children under 15. Announced by the country’s deputy prime minister in early February, the proposal specifically targets high-engagement platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram, where user-generated content dominates.

Spain’s Policy Initiative

Spain’s prime minister confirmed plans in early February to introduce a social media ban for minors under 16, subject to parliamentary approval. In parallel, the government is evaluating policies that could hold social media executives personally responsible for the spread of hate speech on their platforms, linking content moderation with executive accountability.

The United Kingdom’s Deliberation

The United Kingdom is reviewing the possibility of implementing restrictions on social media use for individuals under 16. The government has initiated a consultation process involving parents, young users and civil society organizations. Officials are also considering tighter controls on platform features such as endless scrolling, which researchers associate with compulsive behavior.

As these regulatory approaches continue to develop, the global debate remains active. Governments are weighing the responsibility to protect children against concerns related to privacy, digital rights and potential government overreach, shaping the future direction of social media policy worldwide.

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Women Make Up A Majority Of The EU’s Science And Technology Workforce But The Real Gap Is Elsewhere

by News Editor

June 25, 2026

Women now make up the majority of the EU’s science and technology workforce. According to Eurostat, in 2025, more than 81.6 million people aged 15 to 74 were employed in science and technology occupations across the EU. Of those, 52.5% were women, equal to 42.8 million women. The number of women in these occupations rose by 27.9% compared with 2015, an increase of more than 9.3 million over a decade.

On the surface, the numbers resemble progress. However, Eurostat’s category requires context before that figure can be read accurately. The data refers to HRST, or Human Resources in Science and Technology, specifically people employed in science and technology occupations. These are roles where the main tasks require professional or technical knowledge in physical and life sciences, but also in social sciences and humanities. That definition is wider and broader than engineering, ICT, laboratory science, or high-tech research alone.

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Zooming In

The gender picture changes once the data moves from a wider definition of the workforce to the narrower scientist-and-engineer (research and manufacturing) subgroup.

Scientists and engineers represented almost a quarter of all people employed in science and technology in the EU in 2025. Eurostat describes scientists and engineers as often being the innovators at the centre of technology-led development, making them an important subgroup to focus on separately.

Women accounted for only 40.8% of scientists and engineers in 2025, despite making up more than half of the wider category. That share has increased by a mere 0.5 percentage points over the past decade. The absolute number of women working as scientists and engineers rose from 5.3 million in 2015 to 8.2 million in 2025, despite the push from national and international organisations to increase the number of women in the field. Europe has expanded the number of women in science and technology occupations over ten years. However, that expansion has not extended equally into the scientist-and-engineer subgroup, where much of Europe’s research and innovation work is conducted.

In 2025, of the 39.4 million women aged 25 to 64 working in science and technology occupations in the EU, 35.5 million worked in service activities. Only 2.7 million worked in manufacturing. Women accounted for 57.5% of science and technology employment in services, but only 31.3% in manufacturing.

In 2025, the highest shares of women employed in science and technology occupations were recorded in Latvia at 62.4%, followed by Hungary’s Great Plain and North region at 61.1%, Estonia at 60.5%, Poland’s Central macroregion at 60.4%, and Lithuania at 60.3%. No EU country recorded a majority of women among science and technology workers in manufacturing.

Break-down

Eurostat’s figures measure employment in broad science and technology occupations. They do not show job security, pay levels, management roles, promotion rates, research leadership, or whether women are concentrated in junior or senior workplace positions.

The classification of “senior” also requires additional explanation. Eurostat reports that 45.9% of science and technology workers aged 25 to 64 in the EU were classified as “senior” HRST in 2025. In this dataset, “senior” refers to workers aged 45 to 64. It does not mean senior manager, senior researcher, team lead, or decision-maker.

A high female share in the wider Human Resource Science and Technology (HRST) category does not parallel equal representation across scientists, engineers, manufacturing roles, senior posts, pay, research funding, or decision-making. These figures also reflect the occupational mix inside each country or region, not only structural progress across all areas of science and technology.

The Case Of Cyprus

Eurostat data places Cyprus’s overall science and technology employment at 37.2% of the labour force in 2025, slightly above the EU-27 figure of 36.9%, and above Greece at 26.8%, Malta at 33.9%, and Turkey at 18.2%. This figure covers the total share of the labour force employed in science and technology across all genders.

Progress Or Work-in-Progress?

52.5% in the broad category. 40.8% among scientists and engineers. 31.3% in manufacturing. Europe’s gender gap in science and technology hasn’t closed yet, and there is still work to be done to encourage and support more women to enter the field, especially in research and manufacturing.

Let’s not wait another decade for another couple of percentage points of hope.

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