European Union considers social media ban for children

The European Union (EU) is considering banning social media for children, following similar efforts seen in the United Kingdom and Australia to restrict children’s access to social media platforms.
On Monday, a 156-page report given to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suggested restricting access to social media for children under the age of 13 unless there is a parent or teacher present.
The report’s authors, child psychiatrist Professor Jörg Fegert and epidemiologist Dr. Maria Mechior, wrote that children between 13 and 18 years old should have access to social media platforms that already have safety features in place, including limits on constant scrolling.
“Manufacturers have a duty to ensure the safety of their products,” European Parliament rapporteur Sandro Ruotolo said in a statement. “The same principle must apply to digital platforms. As rapporteur for the European Parliament, I fully agree with this approach. Platforms must eliminate features that encourage addiction, manipulation, and exposure to harmful content or contacts. Safety shall be incorporated into services by design.”
The report also called for an EU “code of conduct for influencers,” a ban on addictive features, a “youth mode” to disable targeted advertising and the imposition of ethical standards for artificial intelligence “companions.” Children under 3 are to have no screen access whatsoever according to the report’s proposals.
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