Poland on October 27 registered plans for a law barring children under 15 from social media platforms, according to the government's legislative agenda, proposing restrictions that would affect services such as TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.

The proposal would go further than draft EU-wide rules, which would allow 13- and 14-year-olds limited accounts controlled by parents. It follows Australia's introduction of a ban on social media accounts for under-16s in December 2025, part of a broader international push to protect children online.

Prepared jointly by the digital affairs and education ministries, the Polish proposal would require reliable age checks rather than users simply declaring their birth dates.

Verification could use the EU digital identity wallet, Poland's mObywatel app or other tools complying with EU identity rules. Platforms would receive confirmation that users meet the age threshold without learning their names. Telecommunications regulator UKE would oversee compliance.

"Children's safety cannot depend on the goodwill of digital platforms," Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said in a statement on October 16, calling for enforceable safeguards.

The government aims to approve the draft in the first quarter of 2027, after which it would head to the parliament.

Deputy Education Minister Katarzyna Lubnauer said on October 28 that she hoped restrictions would take effect in the 2027/28 school year, initially covering new accounts and then existing users.

The government cited research showing that 55% of Polish children aged seven to 12 regularly use social media or messaging apps, despite most platforms' minimum age of 13. The proposal also calls for digital safety education in preschools and schools.