Business conducted on children
The European Parliament called for a ban on the usage of social media by people under 16. On Wednesday, Euro MPs adopted a resolution on age restrictions by a large majority, which, although not binding, puts force on associate States.
This position is motivated by concern for the intellectual condition of children and teenagers. The debate has been on this issue for months. In September, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen announced the monitoring of the implementation of akin regulations in Australia, where from next period people under 16 will not be able to usage social media. The EP resolution underlines that addiction-friendly elements are frequently an integral part of the business models of platforms, especially social models.
Tools that Can Help
In order for restrictions to be introduced, it is essential to make appropriate instruments to help. There are respective concepts of action.
Euro MPs have, for example, advocated the continuation of the European Commission's work on creating an EU age verification application and a European digital identity portfolio. However, they indicated that all recognition systems should at the same time supply effective protection for minors, warrant respect for their privacy and not exempt platforms from the work to plan safe and age-appropriate services.
Members besides proposed the introduction of individual work for elder management in cases of serious and repeated infringements, in peculiar those concerning kid protection and age verification. In their view, specified a solution would make companies more consistent with the EU digital service act and another applicable regulations.
A Crushing Report
The study presented by Danish Euro MP Christel Schaldemose shows that all 4th insignificant is addicted to a mobile phone, which besides involves social media. Only those who are 16 years old should have access to specified platforms in the opinion of Euro MPs, as it is easier to control their own behaviour at this age and there is little susceptibility to addiction. Younger children could only usage phones and social networks with the consent of adults.
The study recalls that 97% of young people usage the net all day and 78% of people aged 13-17 check notifications on mobile devices at least erstwhile an hour. Moreover, 1 in 4 minors manifest symptoms of ‘problematic’ or ‘disfunctional’ usage of smartphones resembling addiction patterns.
According to a Eurobarometer survey of 2025, more than 90% of Europeans consider protecting children online an urgent need. The public pays peculiar attention to the negative impact of social media on intellectual wellness (93%), the expanding scale of cyberbullying (92%) and the request for effective methods of limiting access to age-appropriate content (92%).
