EU needs to delay social media access for children - von der Leyen
Summary
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed delaying children's access to social media in Europe and plans new laws to protect minors online. Several European countries and others worldwide are considering or have introduced social media age limits to prevent harm to children.Key Facts
- Ursula von der Leyen announced plans for legislation to protect children online, with expert advice expected by July.
- Several EU countries, including France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, and Denmark, have proposed or are working on age limits for social media use.
- Australia was the first country to ban social media access for under-16s in December 2023.
- Rules being considered include bans, age verification systems, and restrictions on harmful content and addictive algorithms.
- The EU enforces child safety rules through the Digital Services Act and has found some social media platforms like Meta’s Instagram and Facebook in breach for allowing under-13s.
- TikTok has also been warned about addictive design features and faces possible fines by the EU.
- The US government, under President Trump, has criticized the EU’s actions, calling them attacks on American tech companies.
- Von der Leyen emphasized that social media should not have unrestricted access to young people, aiming to protect childhood.
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