The European Union plans to restrict children’s access to social media across all 27 member states, the President of the European Commission has stated
The European Commission is considering a multi-stage approach to children’s and teenagers’ access to digital platforms. According to expert recommendations, children under the age of 13 will only be able to use social media for a limited time and under the supervision of parents, carers or teachers. As teenagers get older, the restrictions are to be gradually eased.
“It is clear that we need age restrictions for these platforms,” von der Leyen told journalists in Brussels. She noted that the question is no longer whether children face online risks, but how to ensure they have a safer start in the digital environment.
The European Commission is expected to present a concrete proposal after the summer. Reuters reports that von der Leyen may announce it during her annual State of the European Union address in September.
The new rules could apply not only to traditional social media platforms, but also to a wider range of services with ‘age-inappropriate’ and addictive features. Von der Leyen has termed this the ‘social media plus’ category, which could include platforms with infinite scrolling, auto-play videos, personalised algorithms and other mechanisms designed to capture users’ attention.
The main services likely to be affected include TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. Reuters notes that similar restrictions, aimed primarily at the largest short-form video platforms and social media sites, are already in place or under discussion in various countries around the world.
The Associated Press reports that an EU expert group has recommended restricting access to social media for children under the age of 13 until technology companies can demonstrate that their platforms are safe for children. For teenagers over the age of 13, it is proposed that access be granted gradually, limited only to those services that meet safety and age-appropriateness requirements.
The European Commission is also developing its own app to verify users’ ages online. Such a system should help platforms and EU member states enforce age restrictions, although officials in Brussels acknowledge that it is technically impossible to completely prevent such measures from being circumvented.