Parliament push for tougher online safety rules for children in the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands Parliament has approved new measures to strengthen the protection of minors online, including digital literacy in schools, parental controls and stricter age verification on social media platforms.
The motion was passed yesterday (Wednesday) with only Vox voting against it. There are now calls for practical steps to make the digital environment safer for children and teenagers. It focuses on education, supervision and improved safeguards rather than restricting internet access or limiting freedom of expression.
Socialist MP Gustavo Matos, who presented the proposal, said the aim is to apply existing child protection laws with “common sense”. During the debate, amendments were added urging Spain’s national parliament to legislate further and require digital platforms to adopt designs that better protect younger users.
Vox defended its opposition, arguing that the regional government is exposing minors to inappropriate content through areas such as education and health, and criticised what it sees as inconsistent standards.
Matos warned that online spaces can become a “hunting ground for predators” without proper oversight, highlighting risks such as cyberbullying, harmful content, misinformation and addictive behaviour. He also pointed to growing concerns over the impact of digital use on young people’s mental health.
The initiative comes as countries across Europe move towards tighter regulation to protect minors online. The European Union is already working on a common framework to strengthen age verification systems and parental consent requirements.
The approved motion calls on the Canary Islands Government to launch awareness campaigns aimed at children, families and schools, promoting safe, balanced and responsible use of the internet and social media.
It also proposes new digital literacy programmes in schools, covering privacy, screen time management, recognising harmful content, preventing cyberbullying and developing critical thinking skills to tackle misinformation.
Parents and guardians would be supported with accessible and secure parental control tools, alongside specific training to help them manage their children’s online activity.
The plan also stresses the shared responsibility of technology companies to create safer digital environments, working with educators, families and mental health experts. It urges Spain to move forward with regulations that set minimum age limits for social media use and strengthen verified parental consent systems, in line with measures already being introduced in countries such as France and Portugal.
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