The GERB party is proposing a major tightening of rules governing children’s access to social media in Bulgaria, including a ban on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Facebook for users under the age of 16, alongside a full prohibition on mobile phone use in schools.
The draft amendments to the Child Protection Act also extend restrictions to video-sharing platforms. Lawmakers behind the proposal argue that the move is necessary due to what they describe as growing evidence of harmful effects from social networks on children’s mental health, attention spans, sleep patterns and overall development, as well as increasing dependence on digital content among teenagers.
Under the proposed system, access would be controlled through a technological age-verification mechanism intended to confirm users’ age at registration while preserving anonymity. Detailed implementation rules would be set out in a regulation to be issued by the Minister of Innovation and Digital Transformation within six months of the law’s adoption.
For minors aged 13 to 16, platform access would only be permitted with parental or guardian consent, which could be withdrawn at any time. The proposal also foresees the creation of a national register of social media platforms operating in the country, along with a supervisory framework and sanctions for companies that fail to comply with the requirements.
