Sánchez's plan against Instagram & Co.: Shield for the child or a bandage on the wound?

Sánchez's plan against Instagram & Co.: Shield for the child or a bandage on the wound?

Key question

Can a statutory ban on social networks for under-16s really eliminate digital risks — without creating new problems?

Critical analysis

The idea is clear: protect children, limit platform influence. In practice, however, several obstacles stand in the way. First, age verification. Providers are to introduce "effective systems" — but no one has explained how this should work in a privacy-compliant, fraud-proof and everyday-usable way. A student using a parent's account or a simple ID upload in an app are not sufficient safeguards. Second, executive liability. Personal responsibility sounds like a way to get through to companies, but it quickly becomes legally complicated: what does "not removed" mean when there are millions of posts? And how do you establish the link between an algorithm, moderation and a criminally relevant omission? Questions of local responsibility have already led to legal disputes, as in Mallorca sues Madrid: Who bears responsibility for unaccompanied minors?.

Third, the gray areas: when access is officially blocked, young users often move into private chats, gaming platforms or VPN-protected sites — areas where control becomes even harder. And last but not least the international dimension: Spain wants to cooperate with other states, but internet companies operate globally. National bans only reach operators if they are backed by clear technical and legal means.

What's missing from the public discourse

The debate focuses on bans and punishment, less on prevention and everyday help. Concrete proposals to support parents, media literacy and privacy-friendly technical minimum standards are lacking. The view of social causes is often too short as well: why do children seek validation online, and how are school stress, loneliness and screen use connected? High-profile local incidents also sharpen the debate about responsibility and online group dynamics, as discussed in Palma mourns: 15-year-old dead – WhatsApp groups, pills and the unanswered question of responsibility.

Everyday scene from Mallorca

Morning in front of the Son Dameto schoolyard in Mallorca: parents wait with coffees from the kiosk on the square, children run into the building — and small phones are already sticking to the bags of six- to ten-year-olds. The Balearics partly ban phones during lessons, but scrolling on the way to school and at home remains normal. Teachers report that breaks mean fewer conversations and more heads bowed over screens — a striking finding that a UIB study on problematic screen use in young children complements. But: a ban outside of school would not automatically change this scene.

Concrete approaches

1) Pilot projects instead of blanket bans: trial runs in school districts of the Balearics could measure age verification, data protection and avoidance behavior. 2) Trustworthy age checks: instead of mandatory scans via apps, a combination of state eID (DNIe/passport) and decentralized confirmation by banks or schools would be more practical — with strict deletion deadlines. 3) Empower parents: free courses at adult education centers and parent evenings in municipalities like Inca or Manacor, plus simple guides for parental control features; resources already exist such as the Balearic Islands' "Nous Actius" free workshops. 4) Algorithmic transparency: independent audits of recommendation algorithms that measure polarization — and a standardized measurement tool that small states like the Balearics can also use. 5) Schools as partners: expand digital media education from primary school onward and provide concrete funding for teachers. 6) Rethink sanctions: instead of criminally pursuing CEOs alone, compliance violations should be sanctioned in stages and companies should be required to appoint compliance officers with real powers to enforce rules.

Why this matters for Mallorca

On an island with many families, international schools and strong tourism, children are exposed in different ways: some grow up multilingual and media-savvy, others have little supervision at home. Mallorca can become a testbed: local school networks, the health system and university research (University of the Balearic Islands, UIB) are on site — ideal conditions to develop practical models.

Pointed conclusion

The political impulse from Madrid hits a nerve. But protection cannot be mandated by ban alone. If the government seriously wants to hold CEOs accountable, it must first create clear, enforceable rules, technical standards and support structures. Otherwise there is a risk of a rulebook that promises much and delivers little — and young people will find ways authorities did not foresee. Better would be for Mallorca to use its local networks, start pilot projects, strengthen families and teachers — and show how ambitious youth protection can work in practice.