Protect Teens Online 🛡️⚠️ Social Media Rules!

World News

The European Parliament has voiced its support for enhanced online protections for minors, citing increasing vulnerability. While the resolution itself carries no legal force, several countries are already moving forward with similar measures. The Parliament agreed on Wednesday to a non-legislative report advocating for a default minimum age of 16 for accessing social media platforms, asserting that this would ensure “age-appropriate online engagement.” This move reflects a broader EU debate regarding how to safeguard minors from harmful content and addictive digital features. A draft of the report, released in October, proposed “the establishment of a harmonised European digital age limit of 16 years old as the default threshold under which access to online social media platforms should not be allowed unless parents or guardians have authorized their children otherwise.” Lawmakers adopted the report by 483 votes in favor, with 92 against and 86 abstentions. Furthermore, the resolution recommended a harmonized EU digital age limit of 13, prohibiting minors from accessing social media and video-sharing platforms, as well as “AI companions,” whose rising popularity among adolescents has raised concerns across several EU states. The report was adopted by 483 votes in favor, 92 against, and 86 abstentions. Germany has already implemented regulations allowing children aged 13 to 16 to use social media.

Social media usage rules vary significantly across Europe and Australia, with child protection advocates expressing concerns about inconsistent enforcement. Italy requires parental consent for children under 14 to create social media accounts, while individuals aged 14 and older are not subject to this requirement. The Netherlands currently has no legal minimum age for social media use, although since January 2024, mobile phones have been prohibited in classrooms—with exceptions made for digital teaching, medical needs, or disabilities. Norway has proposed raising the age of consent for social media terms from 13 to 15, allowing parents to still approve access for younger children. Denmark’s government has agreed to implement a minimum age requirement of 15 years old on certain social media platforms. Australia passed a law in November 2024 mandating that platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok block access for minors under 13; violations can result in fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32.1 million). Finally, the United Kingdom’s Online Safety Act, adopted in 2023 and beginning enforcement in 2025, establishes stricter age-appropriate protections on platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.