Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, introduced a plan aimed at protecting children from the risks associated with certain social platforms. This initiative seeks to prevent children under 13 from accessing networks like Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.
Concerns about children's mental health
This action comes after similar proposals have been made in countries such as Australia, the UK, China, India, Turkey, and several European nations, in response to increasing concerns about the negative effects of social media on children's mental health. Von der Leyen stated at a press conference, "Today, our children interact with some of the most advanced technologies ever created, and these technologies are not designed with their well-being and development in mind."
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New details and requirements
The proposed reform of the "EU Children's Law" addresses the establishment of clear boundaries in the digital world. Additionally, this plan allows parents to have more control over the accounts of young people aged 13 to 15. This initiative will be discussed among EU member states and the European Parliament in the coming months.
Social media accounts, video streaming services, online games, and chatbots designed for users under 18 will be subject to a series of stricter regulations. These regulations include a ban on addictive features such as endless scrolling and automated content. It is also proposed that algorithm-based recommendations, personalized profiling, reward-based interaction mechanisms, and unsolicited contacts from strangers be limited.
The European Parliament also demands that platforms be required to implement safe designs and algorithms for children, and that parental controls be easily usable. Furthermore, large tech companies must strengthen their age verification systems for individuals wishing to open accounts.
Companies that fail to comply with these requirements may face fines of up to 6% of their global annual revenue. They will also need to allocate more resources for content monitoring and management.
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