JAKARTA – The European Commission is preparing plans to restrict children’s access to social media, with the measures due to be announced after this summer.
According to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the proposals will not only set limits on children’s access to social media but will also regulate when and how digital platforms may be used by children.
“The question is no longer whether children face risks online, but what we can do to ensure they have a safer early stage of development while navigating the internet,” von der Leyen said at a press conference on Monday (13/4).
She argued that children today need more time in the real world to play, build friendships in person, make mistakes and develop their identities “before algorithms shape them”.
Von der Leyen also stressed that efforts to protect children should begin immediately, starting with the platforms that pose the greatest risks.
Based on evidence gathered by the European Commission, social media platforms will be the primary focus of the proposed restrictions, followed by other digital services deemed addictive or inappropriate for users of certain ages.
Von der Leyen said the proposal had been drafted in line with recommendations from an expert panel. One recommendation includes a phased approach that would require parental supervision for children under the age of 13 when using digital platforms.
However, the draft regulation must still go through the European Union’s legislative process before it can take effect across the bloc’s 27 member states.
The proposal would add the European Union to a growing list of countries and jurisdictions tightening children’s access to social media, including the United Kingdom and Australia. (KR/ZH)