EU considers new child safety restrictions for social media platforms.
Proposed rules target younger users and safer platforms for teenagers.
The EU is set to introduce restrictions on children’s access to social media after the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced that it would consider proposals based on a report by independent experts.
According to the report, children spend four to six hours per day on social media, which causes developmental problems, increased risk of anxiety and depression, sleep disorders, and lack of concentration.
The authors recommend restricting the ability of those under 13 to use social media without the supervision of an adult and requiring those 13 to 18 years old to use only platforms that offer enhanced safety.
Platforms Should Ensure Safer Experiences for Younger Users
The report highlights how authorities worldwide are gradually shifting the responsibility for children’s safety from parents to the technology companies that employ them. The new laws will affect approximately 81 million young people in the EU, and the social media companies will have to implement additional safety measures for underage users.
A main concern with the draft law is related to age discrimination. Many children already use social media by circumventing the age restrictions, and simply changing the date of birth will hardly resolve the issue. Similar measures have been taken in Australia, as well as in several states in the US, but the EU’s restrictions may turn out to be the most comprehensive due to the size of the EU market.
The European Commission will review the recommendations next year after the summer and will decide whether to formally propose legislation to member states. It will probably take several years until the restrictions are finalized due to negotiations between the EU states.
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