EU Weighs Social Media Restrictions for Teens

The European Commission is considering sweeping new restrictions on children's and teenagers' access to social media. The Verge reports.

Among the options under discussion are setting age limits, an outright ban for minors and phased access to platforms depending on age. Also being weighed is an option under which social media companies would be required to prove their services are safe before admitting young users.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen commented on the initiative, though the source does not provide details of her statement.

The initiative fits into the EU's broader push to tighten control over digital platforms and protect underage users online. The EU already had rules in place requiring major online services to take children's interests into account when designing their products.

If the proposed measures are adopted, they could substantially change the way the largest social platforms operate in the European market, including the need to introduce age verification systems for users.

Details of exactly which platforms would fall under the new rules and when they might take effect have not yet been specified. Further discussion of the initiative is expected to continue at the level of European institutions.

Source: The Verge