Nearly 40 countries worldwide are proposing or already implementing age restrictions for social media.

Omissions

• The claim says 'nearly 40' but the most comprehensive tracker identifies 42 countries, meaning the true figure is slightly above rather than below 40.
• The MEP did not cite any specific source for the figure, making independent verification reliant on a specialized policy tracker rather than an official intergovernmental database.
• The OECD blog (April 2026) only counts 25 OECD member and accession candidate countries with activity — the global figure is significantly higher because many non-OECD countries (e.g., Indonesia, Brazil, Ecuador) are also taking action.
• The definition of 'proposing or implementing' varies across trackers — some countries have fully enacted laws (7 as of the tracker data), while others are only at the stage of parliamentary proposals or government announcements.

Sources

• PrimaryOECD — Social media age restrictions for children: Why they are rising and what comes nextTwenty-five OECD Members and accession candidate economies now have social media age restrictions in force, enacted, or under active consideration. Of the 25 countries with activity recorded as of April 2026, the overwhelming majority are in the 'under consideration' category. Only three countries — Australia, Brazil and Singapore — have restrictions currently in force.
• SecondaryTech Policy Press — Global Social Media Age Restriction TrackerShowing 42 countries with social media age restrictions, 7 with implemented laws. The tracker maps legislation to restrict or ban teen social media access across the globe, covering countries that are considering, proposing, or implementing age restrictions.
• SecondaryLaw & Economics Center — Social Media Bans and the Problem of One-Size-Fits-All PolicyRecent global tracking indicates that at least 42 countries are considering, proposing, or implementing some form of social media age restriction.