The European Union is considering a ban on social media for children, following France’s move to prohibit the use of social media for under-15s. The French lower house of parliament recently passed a bill that would enforce this ban, which still needs Senate approval to become law. This development has put pressure on the EU to take similar action, with the European Commission chief, Ursula von der Leyen, advocating for a minimum age limit.
The EU has already implemented tough rules regulating the digital space, with ongoing probes into the impact of platforms like Instagram and TikTok on children. A consultative panel on social media use, promised by von der Leyen, is expected to be set up early this year to advise on the EU’s next steps to protect children online. The panel’s objective is to provide feedback on potential future decisions, with all options being considered.
The European Parliament has called for a social media ban on under-16s, and countries like Malaysia, Norway, and New Zealand are planning similar restrictions. Denmark has also announced plans to ban access to social media for minors under 15. Both France and Denmark are among five EU states testing an age-verification app to prevent children from accessing harmful content online.
The EU’s content law, known as the Digital Services Act (DSA), gives regulators the power to force companies to modify their platforms to better protect minors online. For example, the DSA bans targeted advertising to children. The EU can use the DSA to impact the way children interact with social media, according to Paul Oliver Richter, affiliate fellow at the Bruegel think tank.
The EU has launched probes into TikTok and Meta’s Facebook and Instagram over concerns that these platforms may not be doing enough to address negative impacts on young people. The investigations, launched in February and May 2024, are still ongoing, with regulators hoping to deliver preliminary findings in the first half of the year. The EU spokesman has insisted that work is heavily ongoing and that these cases will be closed.
The potential ban on social media for children has significant implications for the digital landscape in Europe. As the EU continues to grapple with the challenges of regulating the online space, it remains to be seen what approach the 27-nation bloc will take to protect children online. With the consultative panel expected to provide feedback soon, the EU is likely to take further steps to address the issue in the coming months.
