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The European Parliament on Wednesday urged EU member states to set a minimum age of 16 for minors to access social media without parental consent.
According to a Politico report, Members of the Parliament also proposed holding tech CEOs, including Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, personally accountable if their platforms repeatedly violate EU rules designed to protect minors online — a suggested provision that was added by Hungarian social-democrat member Dóra Dávid, who previously worked for Meta.
The push for stricter regulations comes as several EU countries plan tighter restrictions on social media use for children amid growing concerns about the impact of platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube on mental health and development.
Australia is also moving to implement a 16-year minimum age for social media accounts, added the report.
The European Parliament approved a report on protecting minors online, with 483 votes in favor, 92 against, and 86 abstentions.
The report urges the European Commission to standardize age-check measures across the EU, as several countries develop their own national rules.
Most opposition came from right-leaning political groups, who argued the report overreaches into national competencies.
Led by Danish social-democrat Christel Schaldemose — who also spearheaded Parliament’s work on the Digital Services Act — the report could shape upcoming EU legislation.
Quick Reads
View AllNext year, the Commission plans to propose the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive and a new Digital Fairness Act, both of which will include major provisions on minor protections.
With inputs from agencies