The European Union (EU) is planning to introduce a system of phased and gradual access to social media for children, according to EU chief Ursula von der Leyen. This follows recommendations from an expert panel that advised against a blanket ban but suggested age-appropriate restrictions.
Expert Panel Recommendations
The expert panel, comprising doctors, academics, youth representatives, and parents, recommended no screen time for babies and toddlers. For children aged three to 12, they suggested supervised use of age-appropriate social media and devices. Adolescents aged 13 to 18 would have evolving autonomous use of social media with key safety features.
EU's Stance on Social Media
Von der Leyen emphasized that the focus is not on whether children can access social media, but on when and how social media can access children. She called for age-appropriate restrictions and stated that platforms must prove their services do no harm.
National Proposals and Harmonization
The EU is currently reviewing national proposals from member states, such as Spain's ban on under-16s accessing social networks and France's proposal to prohibit children aged 15 and under. The EU aims to harmonize these approaches and find a common solution.
Upcoming Legal Proposal
A legal proposal is expected in the second half of the year. EU consumer protection chief Michael McGrath announced that a new law will provide stronger protection for children against addictive design in digital markets.
Why This Matters
This proposed regulation is significant as it aims to protect children from the potential harms of social media, such as addiction and exposure to inappropriate content. For Bangladesh, this could serve as a model for developing similar policies to safeguard children in an increasingly digital world.
