Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, made a strong statement regarding the need to revise rules governing children's access to digital platforms. At a press conference in Brussels, she called for enhanced protection of minors online, relying on data from the Special Expert Group on Child Safety.
According to the Commission President, accumulated evidence increasingly supports the introduction of a minimum age for using social media. Von der Leyen proposed a phased approach to regulation, which should form the basis of future European policy.
"Social media is not a toy"
During her speech, the Commission President described the position that young children should be completely shielded from screens as the most convincing. In her view, access to social media for children under 13 should be permitted only under strict adult supervision and in limited quantities.
"Social media is not a toy," von der Leyen emphasized. She warned that maintaining the status quo, where major IT companies are allowed unlimited access to children, will condemn the next generation to mental health issues, addiction, and suffering.
Statistics confirm the seriousness of the situation: according to a study, teenagers spend between four and six hours a day in front of screens. Almost 60% of younger children have encountered emotional or psychosocial problems related to internet use.
Responsibility shifts to tech giants
Ursula von der Leyen clearly defined who should be held accountable for the safety of the online space. In her words, this responsibility lies with technology companies, as they have a "duty of care for their users," rather than with parents or the children themselves.
"In Europe, whoever develops a product is responsible for its safety," she stated, drawing an analogy with the automotive industry. The Commission President noted that no one expects children to invent seatbelts themselves, or for parents to install airbags in their homes. Similarly, major technology companies must make their products safe.
Expert recommendations and legislative steps
Co-author of the report, Dr. Maria Melchior, noted that while acknowledging the colossal potential of technology, one cannot ignore the significant risks. The report highlights services containing features not intended for children, such as infinite scrolling, auto-play content, and intrusive notifications. Experts characterized such platforms as "social media+".
Professor Jörg Fegert from the University of Ulm in Germany, based on available data, recommended harmonizing the introduction of an age restriction on access to "social media+" for children under 13 across the entire EU.
The European Commission will examine the expert group's recommendations before presenting legislative proposals after the summer. Von der Leyen emphasized the urgency of the issue: "Because childhood will not wait. And once it is gone, it cannot be returned".
