Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, presented a major proposal on Thursday aimed at protecting children from online dangers and called for a ban on social media use for individuals under 13 years old. This proposal also includes a requirement for digital services to create safety accounts specifically for teenagers.
Alignment with International Actions
This policy initiative aligns with actions taken in the UK, Australia, China, India, Turkey, and several other EU countries. These countries have taken measures due to widespread concerns about the negative impacts of platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube on the safety and mental health of children.
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Implementation and Regulatory Challenges
Implementation issues observed when introducing social restrictions for individuals under 16 in Australia indicate that European officials may face similar challenges. Von der Leyen stated at a press conference, "Today, our children are engaged with some of the most advanced technologies ever created, and these technologies have not been designed with the welfare and development of children in mind."
She emphasized that the proposed bill, known as the "EU Children’s Law," will "set clear boundaries in the digital world, just like we do in the real world."
Before the proposed regulations can be implemented, they must be negotiated between EU member states and the European Parliament. Under the current plan, social media accounts for children aged 13 to 15 will require parental supervision.
Additionally, video-sharing platforms, social networks, online games, and interactive AI models designed for individuals under 18 will be subject to a comprehensive list of requirements and prohibitions.
These restrictions include a ban on addictive design mechanisms, profile-based recommendation feeds, endless scroll features, reward systems, and unsolicited messages from anonymous users. Systems that include AI robots and chatbots must be disabled by default.
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Source: independent.co.uk
