The European Parliament has proposed restricting access to social media for children under 16 to strengthen online protection for minors.
During a plenary session, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) approved a non-legislative report with 483 votes in favor, 92 against, and 86 abstentions, calling for ambitious action to protect minors online.
According to the European Parliament, MEPs called for a “minimum age of 16 across the EU and a ban on the most harmful practices that create addiction.”
“To help parents manage their children’s digital presence and ensure age-appropriate online engagement, the Parliament proposes a harmonized digital minimum age of 16 for access to social media, video-sharing platforms, and companion AI tools, while allowing access for 13–16-year-olds with parental consent,” the statement said.
MEPs also called for banning platforms that do not comply with EU rules, taking measures against persuasive technologies such as targeted advertising and influencer marketing, protecting minors from commercial exploitation, and urgently addressing ethical and legal challenges posed by generative AI tools, including deepfakes and companion chatbots.
