EU faces revolt over social media ban for children
Summary
The European Union is preparing plans to restrict children’s access to social media and roll out an age-check system, triggering backlash from children’s rights and privacy groups. Ursula von der Leyen is expected to outline the measures in a speech to the European Parliament next week.
Key Points
- The European Union is considering limits on social media use for children under 13 or under 15, alongside a new age-check system.
- Children’s rights groups and digital rights advocates say the plans could harm freedom of expression, access to information, and privacy.
- EU officials argue the measures are needed to protect minors from addictive platform design and online risks.
- The proposed age-verification app would use methods such as passports, national IDs, or banks, but experts have raised security concerns.
