Key facts
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said her government will not introduce a social media ban for minors.
- Meloni expressed doubt that a ban alone would solve the problem, as it could be easily circumvented.
- She suggested that restrictions could partially transfer the issue to families.
- Meloni stressed the importance of pressuring social media platforms to take responsibility.
- The G7 leaders' declaration on child protection online did not include a ban on social media access for children.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced that her government will not take the lead in introducing a ban on social media for minors, unlike measures being considered or implemented in France and the U.K. Meloni stated at the G7 summit that while she is not opposed to a ban for those under 16, she is unconvinced it would be effective due to the ease with which such restrictions can be circumvented. She suggested that a ban might simply shift the problem to families and emphasized that governments should instead focus on pressuring platforms to assume greater responsibility for user safety.