European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has urged for enhanced safeguards for children on the internet, stating that the findings from the Special Panel on Child Safety Online should inform future European policy.
Von der Leyen stated that the evidence is increasingly in favor of establishing a minimum age for social media access and recommended a gradual implementation for various age categories.
At a press conference in Brussels, the EU leader stated that the case for prohibiting toddlers from screens and digital platforms, and that children under 13 should use social media only with adult supervision and for restricted time, was the "most compelling".
"Social media isn't a game," she remarked, cautioning that "the current situation, where we permit large tech companies unfettered access to our youth, will only doom another generation to increased mental distress, addiction, and suffering."
Research data indicates that adolescents allocate four to six hours daily to screen time, with nearly 60 percent of young kids encountering emotional or psychosocial issues online.
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The president of the commission endorsed the broader implementation of age verification technology, emphasizing that the discussion centers not on whether children can use social media but on "how and when social media might reach our children."
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"In Europe, anyone who creates a product is accountable for its safety," she added. "Automakers need to ensure their cars are secure." We don't anticipate that children will create their own seatbelts. We do not anticipate that parents will install airbags at home. "And this should also be applicable to large technology companies."
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Dr. Maria Melcior, one of the report's co-authors, stated, "We all recognize the remarkable opportunities that technology offers, yet we also understand that the potential risks are equally significant."