Children glued to social media: "I have a friend who, if she's punished by having her phone taken away, asks me for mine."

PalmIt's two in the afternoon. In Plaça del Tub, in the center of Palma, hundreds of students leave the Ramon Llull and Joan Alcover high schools almost simultaneously. It's a moment that repeats itself every day and has become a ritual. Since the Ministry of Education banned the use of mobile phones inside schools, many young people carry them hidden in their backpacks and, as soon as they cross the threshold, they hurriedly turn them on. In a few seconds, their eyes are drawn to the screen to check the dozens—or hundreds—of pending notifications. They walk in groups, but with their phones in hand and their eyes glued to their devices. Perhaps, in a few weeks, this scene might cease to be so common.

The Spanish government wants to prohibit access to social media for those under 16. The initiative plans to require digital platforms to implement effective age verification systems to prevent minors from creating profiles or consuming content on networks like TikTok, Instagram, or similar services. The proposal sparks an intense debate among teenagers who have grown up surrounded by screens, but who also recognize the risks of intensive use.

Voices of the issue

"I have a friend who, if she's grounded from her phone, suddenly asks for mine to log into her accounts and check social media. She has this constant need to see if anyone has messaged her, if they've sent her anything new... It would be good for her to have them somewhat restricted," explains Julia, a 15-year-old. "I think it's good that they're banned, although sometimes people use them for good, and I wouldn't stop them," says the young woman, who observes with some detachment a dependency that, paradoxically, she sees up close in her own life.

The young people interviewed by ARA Baleares generally agree in their positive assessment of the measure, although most are regular users of the platforms. "It's good, because what you see on social media is changing young people's political opinions and causing addictions that can end very badly and lead to emotional suffering," explains Maria, a 13-year-old student who has accounts on Instagram and TikTok. "On a really bad day, I might spend an hour and a half on them at most," she adds. When asked how a future ban would affect her, she doesn't hesitate: "I can live without social media." Maria leaves school accompanied by a group of classmates. Among them is Aina, also 13, who describes a different reality. "I don't have social media, and neither do many of my classmates. We don't take our phones to school. I have parental controls, and chat rooms are prohibited," she says. "I think it's good that they're banning sex toys, because some people are very addicted. If they ban them, the mental health problems linked to their use will decrease," she adds.

The government's proposal isn't limited to just establishing a minimum age for access. It also aims to tackle the proliferation of illegal and offensive content online. Among the planned measures are strengthening content traceability, faster removal of materials that incite hatred or violence, and greater responsibility for platforms in moderating what is published. "Hate speech has increased dramatically. Besides, any video can go viral. If a racist video appears, many people take it as humor and share it," Julia warns.

In this digital ecosystem, the key is the algorithm. What it shows—and what it hides—ends up shaping perspectives, tastes, and opinions. "Hate speech has increased. In class, we did a workshop on coexistence, and social media has significantly affected people. I have a friend who used to be very open-minded, but now, because of what she's seen on social media, she's not so much anymore," explains Aina. María adds another layer: "Hate speech depends on the algorithm you have. Mine shows me things about Gabriel Rufián. But it's not always like that. I know people whose ideology has been formed from TikTok videos by El Chocas or Vito Quiles. People believe them."

Balearic support

The Government expressed its support for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's proposal to ban access to social media for those under 16. The initiative is part of a series of measures aimed at regulating the digital environment and protecting children and adolescents from the risks associated with the intensive use of digital platforms. According to the Executive, the proposal responds to growing concern about the effects of social media on young people's mental health, as well as the spread of harmful content, hate speech, and cyberbullying. In this context, the Government considers it necessary to establish clear limits on minors' access to these virtual environments. The debate follows other initiatives implemented in the Balearic Islands, such as restrictions on screen time in schools and awareness campaigns aimed at families and teachers. The Government argues that the ban must be accompanied by digital education and collaborative work with families to promote more responsible technology use.