A child safety panel has advised the Commission to ban social media for under-13s
Popular concern for the dangers of social media for children is high, with young people often, it is feared, consumed by addictive devices. The world is increasingly conscious of the impact this can have on health – particularly among younger users.
As such, pressure has been growing for a more proactive approach to managing how children engage with technology, most notably their use of social media. Support for restrictive measures is growing more vocal, and has found a proponent in the shape of Ursula von der Leyen.
The European Commission president has delegated the issue to a child safety panel, which now advises the EU executive to move towards a social media ban for children under 13. But while countries such as France have pushed for restrictions on under-15s, the panel leaves tighter controls to the discretion of national governments.
Von der Leyen highlighted that average screen time can be six hours in some young age groups, and indicated that other digital services than social media might also be subject to restrictions.
