EU President Urges Tougher Regulations on Children’s Social Media Use
During her annual State of the Union address, EU President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the need for stricter regulations regarding children’s access to social media. She highlighted concerns about the negative impacts of social media on minors, particularly issues related to bullying, exposure to adult content, and risks of self-harm, reports 24brussels.
Von der Leyen announced that the European Commission will review minors’ access to social media platforms and consider implementing tougher restrictions. She also stated her intention to consult a panel of experts for guidance on how to manage children’s use of these platforms. However, she did not clarify whether the EU plans to introduce new legislation for online child protection.
The President criticized the algorithms employed by social media companies, which she claimed exploit children’s vulnerabilities and encourage addictive behaviors. She warned that parents are overwhelmed by the pervasive influence of technology firms in their homes and asserted that “Europe believes in parents, not profits.”
Her remarks come amid a challenging climate for the EU’s rule of law, particularly regarding criticism from the U.S. The Trump administration had previously taken aim at the EU’s digital regulations, siding with American tech companies against measures like the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act.
Although von der Leyen’s speech addressed the issue of harmful algorithms, she refrained from identifying the major U.S. tech companies responsible for these trends. Furthermore, she did not confirm whether the EU might follow Australia’s lead in imposing a ban on social media use for children, which was enacted last year. The EU has so far resisted calls from member states to set a minimum age for social media access.
Von der Leyen did indicate that the panel of child protection experts is expected to provide recommendations by the end of the year. She expressed a keen interest in Australia’s new social media ban for children, labeling it “pioneering.” Australia’s legislation, which establishes a minimum age of 16 for access to certain platforms, is currently being implemented.
Additionally, the European Commission has issued guidelines on child safety as part of its ongoing commitment to protect minors online. In 2023, it declared child safety a priority for the regulation of larger platforms.
