Spain restricts minors' screen time citing Kant's view on education

Philosopher Immanuel Kant argued that "education makes the man" and warned that knowledge shapes the individual. His ideas are referenced in a recent Spanish policy debate.

In February 2026 the Spanish government announced a package of measures aimed at digital platforms, including prohibiting social‑media access for users under 16, raising the age of consent from 14, and requiring robust age‑verification systems. Several autonomous communities, such as Madrid, Murcia, Galicia, Catalonia and Valencia, will also ban personal screen use for children during school hours, affecting more than 550,000 pupils.

The reforms are presented as a response to concerns that algorithms dominate children’s learning, echoing Kant’s claim that education should be directed by adults, not by unregulated technology.