Brazil has implemented new regulations restricting minors' access to social media, effective from Tuesday. The rules aim to protect children and teenagers from exposure to violent and illegal content. The law, passed last year following a scandal involving the sexual exploitation of minors on Instagram, is now being enforced across the country.

Under the new system, users under 16 must link their accounts to those of their legal guardians, and digital platforms are required to introduce effective age verification mechanisms to prevent users under 18 from accessing pornographic or violent material. The National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) will oversee enforcement, with its director Iage Miola confirming that self-declaration of age is now prohibited. Companies violating the law could face fines of up to nine million US dollars, account suspensions, or bans for repeated offenses.

A transition period has begun to clarify the technical aspects of implementation. Experts note that Brazil’s approach extends beyond social media to broader internet regulation, setting it apart from other countries’ measures.