The European Parliament has taken a major step toward stricter rules on children’s use of social media. In a resolution passed on Wednesday, lawmakers urged the European Union to set a minimum age of 16 for accessing social networking platforms, as part of broader efforts to strengthen online safety for minors.
The proposal calls on EU member states to adopt a unified approach to ensure age-appropriate online access. It recommends that children under 16 should not be allowed to use social media without parental consent.
The draft resolution stresses the need for a “consistent digital age limit” across Europe that would restrict children’s access to online platforms. It also suggests setting a separate minimum age of 13 for social networks, video-sharing platforms and AI-powered services.
Lawmakers say the primary motive behind these measures is the growing concern over mental health issues among teenagers linked to excessive use of social media.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted in a speech in September that the EU is closely examining whether it could regulate social media algorithms in the same way Australia is attempting to do. She criticized the way such algorithms exploit children’s vulnerabilities, saying they are designed to create addictive patterns that leave parents feeling powerless “against a tsunami of Big Tech.”
The European Parliament’s resolution is not yet legally binding. It has been formally submitted as a recommendation to EU member states and the Commission, which must now decide whether to draft binding legislation.
Several countries—including Malaysia, Australia and parts of Europe—have already taken steps to impose stricter rules on children’s access to social media.
Sources: The Guardian, Reuters.