Protecting children in the digital environment has gone from being a recommendation to a legal obligation in Spain. The Law on the Protection of Minors in Digital Environments, passed in 2025, requires all manufacturers of mobile phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs to include a free parental control system accessible from the initial device setup . This measure responds to data such as that from UNICEF, which indicates that 41% of 10-year-olds already own a smartphone with internet access—a precocity that, according to psychologist Marta Bermejo, is dangerous due to the lack of maturity to manage digital risks.
The regulations affect not only manufacturers but also digital service platforms, which will be required to offer free parental control tools. The goal is for families to be able to set time limits, filter content, and maintain an ongoing dialogue about their children's digital habits —something experts consider crucial for preventing problems such as cyberbullying, digital addiction, and low frustration tolerance. The law empowers the government to develop technical regulations that define the deadlines and specifications for compliance.
A global movement towards regulation
Spain is not alone on this path. France took a historic step by approving in July 2026 a ban on social media access for children under 15, with a phased implementation beginning in September. Australia pioneered this approach by establishing a minimum age of 16, effective December 2025, with direct penalties for platforms that fail to verify the age of their users . In Latin America, Brazil passed Law 15.211 of 2025, which requires that accounts belonging to minors under 16 be linked to a legal guardian and mandates age verification mechanisms and parental control tools, with fines of up to 50 million reais.
At the European level, the Digital Services Act (DSA) already establishes a common framework that includes a ban on advertising aimed at minors and the obligation to mitigate risks. Countries such as Denmark, Greece, and Portugal have also begun processes to strengthen their national regulations , while the United Kingdom, through the Online Safety Act, imposes child protection duties and age verification to prevent access to seriously harmful content. The trend is clear: digital childhood has gone from being a private matter to a question of public health and sovereignty.
Integrated tools and recent updates
Major tech platforms already offer parental control features, but the new law mandates that they be included by default. Google Family Link , Apple's Screen Time, TikTok Family Sync, and the kids' profiles on Netflix and Disney+ are examples of tools that allow users to manage screen time, block apps, and restrict content by age . Recently, WhatsApp improved the visibility of its parental controls, adding a dedicated section in the settings panel so adults can link their account to their children's and receive notifications about new contacts or changes to settings, without accessing private messages.
However, experts warn that simply installing parental controls and forgetting about them isn't enough. Carlos Valls, a researcher at UCAM, emphasizes that needs change with age and that applying the same restrictions to all children or limiting screen time without monitoring which apps they use reduces the effectiveness of the protection . Valls recommends maintaining routines throughout the year, negotiating limits with teenagers, and setting a good example as adults by avoiding phubbing (ignoring children to look at your phone).
The role of artificial intelligence and the new challenges
The rise of artificial intelligence adds another layer of complexity. UNICEF revealed in June 2026 that at least 20 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 in ten countries are already using AI tools , and in Spain, the EU Kids Online 2026 report indicates that six out of ten minors use generative AI. This has led the government to announce a family digital literacy program with a budget of €140 million. Experts warn about the loss of frustration tolerance and technological dependence, and call for AI parental control tools to evolve to also monitor the use of AI assistants, without replacing human interaction.
