Teenagers’ use of social media and digital services is a popular subject among politicians worldwide, including those in the European Union (EU).
While some countries are currently considering bans up to age 16, others are considering more modest approaches with lower thresholds.
Meanwhile, a digitally advanced Estonia openly rejects the idea of an EU-wide minimum age for social media use, emphasizing the importance of digital literacy among minors, teachers and parents, as well as stronger enforcement of existing legal frameworks, such as the Digital Services Act (DSA).
A few weeks ago, a special expert panel, led by Prof. Dr. Jörg M. Fegert and Dr. Maria Melchior, presented a report on child safety online, offering actionable recommendations.
While the report is overall balanced and recognizes that not all minors under 18 should be treated the same, it leaves significant room for interpretation for EU policymakers, also echoing the Commission's focus on new platform obligations while relying largely on soft measures for parental involvement.
