The European Union (EU) has announced plans to curb social media access for children among member countries. Announcing the plan on Monday while presenting a paper from two experts recommending a tiered approach, European Commission president, Ursula Von der Leyen said the move would be the biggest of such effort to guard against online dangers.
She, however, said under13s would only be allowed to use social media for limited periods under the supervision of parents, caregivers and teachers while the curbs would be lifted gradually as teenagers got older. “It is clear we need age appropriate restrictions to platforms. “The question is no longer if children face risks online, but what can we do to give them a safer start online,’’ Von der Leyen told the media in Brussels.
The EU president indicated that she was likely to follow the experts’ suggestions and that the commission would present a concrete proposal after the summer. She is expected to announce it at her state of the union address in September.
Australia, Britain, China, India and the United States have already imposed a social media ban or are considering one, which would mainly target TikTok, Alphabet’s YouTube and Meta’s Instagram and Facebook. Social media platforms have said they have measures to protect younger users and many have already imposed age restrictions.
“We first need to consider the type of platforms that are harmful to our children. The evidence shows that this is mainly social media platforms, but there are other providers with age inappropriate and addictive features. “So, think of it as social media plus. “When we have this clearly defined category, I believe we need to consider phased and gradual access for different age ranges,’’ Von der Leyen said.
Those concerned companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the plan. EU moves to limit social media access for children among member-states The European Union (EU) has announced plans to curb social media access for children among member countries.
Announcing the plan on Monday while presenting a paper from two experts recommending a tiered approach, European Commission president, Ursula Von der Leyen said the move would be the biggest of such effort to guard against online dangers.
She, however, said under13s would only be allowed to use social media for limited periods under the supervision of parents, caregivers and teachers while the curbs would be lifted gradually as teenagers got older. “It is clear we need age appropriate restrictions to platforms.
“The question is no longer if children face risks online, but what can we do to give them a safer start online,’’ Von der Leyen told the media in Brussels. The EU president indicated that she was likely to follow the experts’ suggestions and that the commission would present a concrete proposal after the summer.
She is expected to announce it at her state of the union address in September. Australia, Britain, China, India and the United States have already imposed a social media ban or are considering one, which would mainly target TikTok, Alphabet’s YouTube and Meta’s Instagram and Facebook.
Social media platforms have said they have measures to protect younger users and many have already imposed age restrictions. “We first need to consider the type of platforms that are harmful to our children. The evidence shows that this is mainly social media platforms, but there are other providers with age inappropriate and addictive features.
“So, think of it as social media plus. “When we have this clearly defined category, I believe we need to consider phased and gradual access for different age ranges,’’ Von der Leyen said. Those concerned companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the plan.
