Buenos Aires Considers Bill to Restrict Social Media Access for Children Under 13

A new bill proposed in the Chamber of Deputies of the Province of Buenos Aires aims to prevent children under the age of 13 from possessing or registering accounts on social media platforms. The legislation, introduced by a deputy from the Nuevos Aires bloc, would impact major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Reddit, Threads, Twitch, and Kick, as well as any analogous service operating with digital interaction.

Absolute Restriction and Parental Consent

The proposed regulations establish an absolute restriction on access for children under 13, meaning parental or legal guardian authorization would not be sufficient to allow a minor to remain on these platforms. This differs from current practices where many platforms rely on parental consent for younger users.

Platform Responsibility and Verification Systems

The bill places the responsibility for verifying user age squarely on the social media companies themselves. They would be required to integrate auditable systems to demonstrate the effectiveness of their age filters to the enforcement authority. These systems must be demonstrably effective in preventing underage users from creating accounts.

Financial Penalties for Non-Compliance

Infractions of the proposed law would result in financial fines levied against the companies owning the platforms. The specific amounts of these fines would be determined by the provincial Executive Branch. Importantly, the bill explicitly states that penalties will not be applied to minors or their families, focusing legal consequences solely on the service providers.

Underlying Concerns and Supporting Data

The proposal is rooted in concerns about the mental health and online safety of children. It cites data from the Kids Online Argentina report by UNICEF and UNESCO, which indicates that, on average, children in Argentina begin engaging with digital content before the age of 10. This early exposure to the digital world is a key factor driving the legislative effort.

International Precedents

The bill draws inspiration from similar legislative actions taken in other countries, specifically mentioning recent developments in Australia. This suggests a growing global trend towards increased regulation of social media access for young children.

TikTok’s Popularity in Buenos Aires

TikTok is a particularly popular platform in Buenos Aires, with a significant presence of influencers and content creators. According to Collabstr, there are over 44 TikTok influencers in Buenos Aires as of February 2026 Collabstr. TikTok also has over 2300 publications using the hashtag #buenos_aires_argentina TikTok. Heepsy reports that as of February 2026, some of the top TikTok influencers in Buenos Aires include BeastEater (20.2M followers), thedonato (12.3M followers), and BigChungus_oficial (42M followers) Heepsy.

Facebook also shows significant activity related to music talent in Buenos Aires Facebook.