The European Commission is sharpening its approach to digital features that can keep children online longer than intended. Its Digital Services Act (DSA) guidance on protecting minors calls on platforms accessible to children to adopt safer defaults, including disabling features that contribute to excessive use by default for minors. The shift matters because it places product design, recommender systems and advertising practices alongside content moderation as core online-safety concerns.
The Commission published its Guidelines on the protection of minors under the DSA on July 14, 2025. The guidance supports compliance assessments under Article 28 of the DSA through a risk-based, safety-by-design framework. It is not simply a statement against screen time. It sets out concrete measures intended to reduce risks to minors and frames privacy, safety and wellbeing as design priorities.
For businesses that operate apps, marketplaces, communities or other online services in the EU, the practical question is no longer limited to whether harmful content is removed. Teams also need to understand whether interface choices, personalisation and notifications could amplify compulsive behaviour among underage users.
