EU nations move to restrict social media access for minors

(Web Desk): In response to growing concerns over harmful online content affecting children, several European countries have begun taking steps to limit minors’ access to social media platforms.

According to an AFP report, the European Union already has some of the world’s strictest digital regulations to control major tech companies. Ongoing investigations are examining how — and whether — these platforms protect children online.

Amid mounting evidence that social media negatively impacts children's mental and physical health, there are increasing calls within the EU for more decisive action.

Backed by France and Spain, Greece has proposed a plan to regulate children’s use of online platforms, citing rising concerns about addiction. The proposal includes setting a digital age of maturity across the EU's 27 member states, meaning children would need parental consent to access social media.

France, Greece, and Denmark support banning children under 15 from social media, while Spain suggests raising the age limit to 16.

It’s worth noting that Australia decided in November 2024 to restrict social media access for children under 16, with implementation set for later this year. New Zealand and Norway are also considering similar restrictions.

France has taken the lead with a crackdown on platforms. In 2023, it passed a law requiring parental consent for users under 15. However, the law has not yet gained the necessary approval to be enforced across the EU.

Additionally, France is gradually introducing age verification requirements for adult websites to prevent children from accessing explicit content. Under pressure from the French government, TikTok on Sunday banned the hashtag #SkinnyTok, which was promoting dangerously extreme weight-loss trends.

French Digital Affairs Minister Clara Chappaz told reporters, “We have an opportunity that must not be wasted — and that’s what I’m here to tell the European Commission today. Age verification is possible.”

Referring to ongoing efforts in France to implement age checks for adult content, she said, “We want the same for social media.”

Chappaz also noted that while member states proposing the regulation differ on the exact age limit, they all agree on the need for robust age verification systems.

Speaking in Luxembourg, she highlighted the concern that even very young children — as young as seven or eight — are easily able to create social media accounts by entering a false birth date, despite the minimum age requirement of 13.

Danish counterpart Caroline Stage Olsen emphasized that children should be as protected online as they are in the physical world. “We need to act to ensure they are better protected than they are today,” she added.

France, Greece, and Spain have also voiced concern over algorithmic designs of digital platforms that increase exposure to addictive and harmful content, potentially leading to anxiety, depression, and self-esteem issues among children.

The proposal also blames excessive screen time at a young age for hampering the development of critical thinking and social skills in minors.

These countries are calling for an EU-wide application that supports parental controls, enables accurate age verification, and limits access to certain apps for minors. The goal is to integrate built-in age verification systems into smart devices like smartphones.

The European Commission — the EU’s digital regulatory body — plans to launch an age verification app next month, ensuring it can confirm age without disclosing personal data.

Last month, the EU issued draft guidelines for platforms aimed at protecting minors, including defaulting child accounts to private settings and making it easier to block or mute other users. These guidelines will be finalized after a public consultation ending this month.