Social Media Restrictions for Minors: A Growing Trend Across Europe
Advocating for Minors' Protection: Minister of Justice Proposes Age Restrictions on Social Media Platforms.
Politicians across Europe are rallying to protect children from the pressures of social media. Federal Minister of Justice Stefanie Hubig, from the SPD party, is the latest to join the fray, advocating for strict regulations to ensure a stress-free and bullying-free childhood.
Hubig emphasizes that children and young folks should be safeguarded against self-presentation pressure and the potential pitfalls of social media platforms. As such, clear, effective age restrictions are paramount for safeguarding privacy and promoting healthy development. According to the Minister, this would also bring relief to parents, sparing them the daily discussions about their children's social media activities.
The call for action comes as countries like France and Spain are already implementing age limits for social media usage. France, for instance, requires parental consent for children under 15, while Spain is working on legislation that would raise the threshold to 16. The agreement to set up an expert commission by the CDU, CSU, and SPD in the coalition agreement boosts the effort to investigate the effects of digital media on children and young folks.
The research community is also supporting the regulation efforts, arguing for collective action to address the issue. According to a CDU researcher, almost no one wants a complete mobile phone ban at schools. Instead, an effective age verification system, such as the mobile application being developed by the European Commission, is the preferred solution. This app, to be launched in July, allows users over 18 to prove their age without disclosing personal details, contributing to broader Digital Services Act (DSA) obligations.
While there is still no consensus on a specific age limit within the EU, the push for stronger protections for minors online is gaining momentum. The ultimate goal is to shield them from cyberbullying, disinformation, hate speech, and other harmful online behaviors. In addition, limiting access to addictive features of social media platforms could reduce compulsive usage and potential negative impacts on mental health.
Parents would benefit from increased oversight, with mandatory parental consent requirements placing more responsibility on them to monitor and approve their children's social media access. However, these regulations could also increase the burden on parents, requiring them to be more digitally literate and vigilant.
Despite the challenges in implementing device-level age verification and the varying cultural attitudes toward digital adulthood across member states, the need for stricter regulation is becoming increasingly apparent. As European countries work to establish a unified approach for the digital age of majority, it's clear that the digital landscape for children and families is set to be reshaped in the coming years.
The Commission's work on the draft directive for carcinogen protection expands, now encompassing the exploration of digital media's effects on children and young adults. In light of this, it's worth considering the potential impact of age restrictions on social media, entertainment, politics, and general news platforms, to ensure a safer online environment for minors. Such measures may foster healthier development by reducing cyberbullying, disinformation, and other harmful online behaviors, while also addressing concerns of privacy and mental health.
