Key facts
- EU chief Ursula von der Leyen stated it is 'time for change' on children's social media access.
- A new survey shows teenagers are exposed to violence, hate speech, and content pressuring body image.
- Australia and the UK have recently banned social media for children under 16.
- An expert panel has been tasked to study potential EU actions to protect minors online.
- The panel's recommendations are due on July 13.
- A legal proposal from the EU Commission could be introduced in the summer.
European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen has called for significant changes regarding children's access to social media platforms, citing concerns over exposure to harmful content. This statement follows recent moves by Australia and the United Kingdom to ban social media for individuals under 16.
A survey released by the European Commission revealed that teenagers aged 13 to 18 are experiencing "excessive" screen and social media use. Nearly one-third of these teenagers reported feeling stressed, sad, or socially excluded due to their social media engagement. Furthermore, a quarter of adolescents encountered hate speech, and a similar proportion viewed content that promoted specific body standards, which the commission described as "harmful or distressing content."
In response to these findings and pressure from member states like France, von der Leyen has tasked an expert panel, comprising medical professionals and parents' representatives, to study potential EU actions. The panel is scheduled to deliver its recommendations on July 13. Von der Leyen has previously expressed personal support for limiting children's social media access and indicated that a legal proposal could be introduced by the EU Commission in the summer.