EU Weighs Social Media Restrictions for Children Following Expert Report

The European Union is considering new restrictions on children's access to social media following a report from child development experts that raised serious concerns about its impact on young people's mental health. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the initiative during a press conference, saying, "It is clear that we need age-appropriate restrictions on digital platforms. The question is not whether children can use social media, but rather when and how social media reaches our children."

A joint report by child psychologist Dr. Jörg M. Fegert and epidemiologist Dr. Maria Melchior paints a worrying picture of children's digital habits across Europe. According to the findings, children now spend between four and six hours a day on social media. Nearly 60 percent reportedly experience social-emotional development issues or mental health risks, including sleep disorders, attention difficulties, anxiety, and depression.

Based on these findings, the report recommends that the European Union prohibit children under the age of 13 from accessing social media without parental or teacher supervision. It also proposes that teenagers aged 13 to 18 be allowed to use only platforms equipped with enhanced safety features, such as restrictions on infinite scrolling and other addictive design elements. Additionally, the experts advise keeping children under the age of three completely away from screens, including smartphones and televisions.

Several countries have already begun introducing similar measures. Australia became the first country to ban social media access for children under 16. Meanwhile, France, Germany, and Spain are considering comparable legislation. In the United States, the state of Florida enacted a law in 2024 prohibiting children under 14 from using social media without parental consent.

Critics of Australia's approach argue that children can easily bypass age restrictions by providing false information or creating fake accounts. In response, the Australian government recently announced that it would double the maximum fine for social media companies that fail to enforce the minimum age requirement, raising the penalty to A$99 million (approximately US$68 million).

If adopted, the proposed EU legislation would become the largest social media age-restriction framework in the world. The European Union is home to around 450 million people, including approximately 81 million individuals under the age of 18. However, any such legislation would require approval from all 27 member states, making the legislative process potentially lengthy.

Despite the challenges, many experts view the report as a potential turning point in the global debate over children's online safety. Von der Leyen concluded, "The more we learn and the more we see the harmful effects on our children, the stronger the case becomes for establishing a minimum age for social media use." The European Commission will now review the report and is expected to present a formal proposal after next summer.

//DBTech/JNN/OR//