Poland’s government is preparing legislation that would prohibit children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms and require technology companies to verify users’ ages, according to Bloomberg. The draft proposal is expected to be presented by the ruling Civic Coalition, with officials indicating that the measure could come into force in 2027 if approved by parliament and signed into law. Under the plan, responsibility for preventing underage access would rest with social media companies rather than parents or guardians.
Education Minister Barbara Nowacka said the government is acting in response to concerns about the effects of online platforms on young people. The draft law would require companies to implement age verification systems to ensure users are at least 15 years old before creating or maintaining accounts. Platforms that fail to comply could face financial penalties, although the size of potential fines has not yet been specified. Lawmakers are continuing discussions on enforcement mechanisms and the technical standards that would be required.
The proposal places Poland among a number of countries considering tighter rules on children’s use of social media. Governments in several European states have examined or introduced measures aimed at limiting minors’ access to online services. Australia passed legislation in late 2025 requiring platforms to introduce age verification controls or face fines. In the United Kingdom, officials have said they are reviewing additional online safety protections for children.
According to Bloomberg, Poland’s initiative may affect large United States-based technology companies that operate major social media platforms. Firms such as Meta Platforms Inc and X Corp would be required to adapt their systems to meet the proposed age threshold if the law is enacted. There was no immediate public response from the companies regarding the Polish draft.
Polish officials said the legislative process will involve further parliamentary debate and committee review before a final vote. Details concerning how age verification would be conducted and how compliance would be monitored remain under consideration. The government has not yet published the full text of the draft bill.