Ljubljana, February 5, 2026 — Slovenia has officially joined the growing “coalition of the digitally willing” in Europe, announcing plans to draft legislation that would ban social media access for minors under the age of 15. Deputy Prime Minister Matej Arčon confirmed the move during a press conference on Thursday, signaling a hardening stance against addictive digital platforms that regulators say are failing to protect children.
A Government Initiative for “Digital Hygiene”
The proposed law is being spearheaded by the Slovenian Ministry of Education, which cited the urgent need to address the mental health risks and “addictive design” prevalent on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. By setting the limit at 15, Slovenia aligns itself with France and Denmark, while pushing slightly beyond the age limits recently proposed by Spain (16) and Australia (16).
“This has been a hot topic around the world and in Europe in recent weeks and months,” Arčon stated. “With this, we as a government are showing that we care about our children and their healthy development.”
The “Slovenian Gap”: Why the Ban is Needed
Data from the Slovenian Safer Internet Centre (Safe.si) released in late 2025 highlighted a staggering implementation gap in current age-verification methods.
- Widespread Bypassing: Roughly 80% of 12–15-year-olds in Slovenia admitted to using social media services before the existing minimum age of 13.
- Harmful Exposure: The same survey found that 80% of Slovenian youth encounter disturbing content—including violence, sexual material, and pro-suicide messages—often pushed through algorithmic “rabbit holes.”
- Algorithmic Profiling: Despite EU Digital Services Act (DSA) protections, nearly all young respondents reported being subjected to profiling-based advertising.
Experts and Ethics at the Core
The drafting process will not be a purely political endeavor. Arčon emphasized that the government will incorporate professionals from education and digital technologies to ensure the law is both effective and enforceable. The legislation aims to specifically target platforms where content is shared via engagement-based algorithms, which are often criticized for prioritizing profit over user safety.
The move comes as the European Commission tests a prototype age-verification app across five other member states, with plans to integrate it into the EU Digital Identity (eID) wallet by the end of 2026. Slovenia’s proactive stance may serve as a blueprint for the “harmonized EU digital minimum age” that the European Parliament has been advocating for throughout the current legislative session.
Key Highlights:
- Under-15 Ban: Slovenia is drafting a new law to prohibit social media use for children under 15, following the lead of France and Australia.
- Education-Led: The initiative was started by the Education Ministry to combat the “rabbit hole” effect of engagement-based algorithms.
- Safe.si Findings: The ban follows data showing that 80% of Slovenian teens easily bypass current age restrictions and encounter harmful content.
- EU Alignment: Slovenia is part of a growing European coalition seeking to move beyond self-regulation and hold platform executives legally liable for minor safety.