Until a regulatory body declares them safe to use, Europe has to put an end to the live-testing of dangerous products on children
In the next few months, the European Commission is expected to propose a social media ban for under-16s. The need for urgent action is clear. We are in the midst of a teenage mental health crisis, knowingly fostered by Big Tech companies.
But while politically understandable, a ban is at best an emergency measure. Instead, we should require social media platforms to be certified as safe before they can be allowed to have children on them.
With the Commission’s Special Panel on Child Safety Online due to report its findings in July, the EU has a unique opportunity to shield its children from the harms of Big Tech while opening the market to real competition. We need an approach that protects children online while promoting innovation, digital sovereignty, and consumer choice.
A well-funded army of lobbyists spins the fantasy that Big Tech puts child safety over profit. These companies have spent years telling policymakers and users that any harms caused by their products are regrettable side effects, or denying any adverse effects altogether. Evidence from companies’ own internal documents, court proceedings, and the daily experience of millions of children and parents proves otherwise.
