The EU Commission Will Present a Proposal to Ban Social Media for Younger Users

The issue of access to social media for minors continues to be highly relevant, with various countries already implementing measures to limit the use of social platforms for younger individuals. The European Commission also intends to accelerate action on this matter in order to protect minors online. This confirmation comes directly from Ursula von der Leyen, who, as often happens regarding the Commission's work, has anticipated upcoming developments on the topic in the coming months. Recently, the restriction of social media for the young has also been requested by many Italian students.

A Regulation After the Summer

The EU Commission is working on a new regulation to protect minors online. The measure will arrive "after the summer." Von der Leyen clarified the EU's stance on the issue: "We in Europe believe that parents should raise our children, not predatory algorithms. What we agree on is that there should be an age limit at which children can sign up."

The goal now is to set a "start date" for access to social media, equating the use of platforms to driving cars and motorcycles or even consuming alcohol. The Commission's fundamental idea is to define a precise framework that prevents younger users from accessing social networks. Von der Leyen added, "We need to establish the age at which minors can legally access social media."

Among the options on the table is a mechanism for a gradual access starting at age 13, while prior to that, the use of social media must only occur under the supervision of parents, guardians, and teachers, and with limited time. For younger children, an absolute ban will be defined. In any case, we will need to wait for the complete proposal from the Commission for a more precise framework.