| |JULY 20269EU Pushes 'Non-Addictive' Social Media for YouthEU and UK Impose Joint Sanctions on Russia Over Cyber AttacksEurope, Ukraine Join Forces on Next-Generation Missile DefenceEurope, Ukraine Join Forces on Next-Generation Missile DefenceEuropean Union lawmakers have urged social media platforms to introduce a mandatory "youth mode" that disables addictive features and targeted advertising for children. The proposal reflects growing calls for the EU to ensure online platforms are safe for young users before they access them. The European Parliament's culture committee also recommended creating an EU-wide code of conduct for influencers and also establishing a common definition of influencer marketing.Lawmakers stressed the need for greater transparency in how social media platforms operate, arguing that unclear algorithms and content moderation practices make it difficult for young users to understand why content is recommended, restricted, or removed. The European Commission has indicated that new regulations targeting addictive platform designs will be introduced soon. The European Union and the United King-dom have jointly imposed new sanctions on Russia, accusing Moscow's FSB intelligence agency of orchestrating cyberattacks across Europe. The coordinated action comes as Western officials warn that Russia has intensified its hybrid campaign to destabilize Europe amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.The EU announced sanctions targeting nine individuals and four entities, while the UK added 24 individuals and organizations to its sanctions list. Described as the first joint EU-UK cyber sanctions initiative, the measures will look at countering Russia's increasing efforts to spread disruption and instability across Europe. Those targeted include members of Russia's GRU military intelligence agency and alleged cybercriminals accused of working alongside the Russian government to conduct malicious cyber operations. Ukraine and nine European countries have initiated the "Integrated coalition against Ballistic missiles" in a major move to en-hance collective security. The initiative tackles Ukraine's critical air defence deficiencies in light of increased Russian missile and drone as-saults while setting the foundation for a wider Eu-ropean missile defence framework.The summit featured leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, emphasizing the urgent requirement for improved interceptors and creative solutions. Talks focused on enhancing resources for the U.S.-produced Patriot systems and examining additional European options. This new coalition offers the political impetus and industrial structure required to promote these objectives, directly addressing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's continual appeals for strong missile defenses. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for stronger online protec-tions for children, saying the findings of the Special Panel on Child Safety Online should help shape future EU policies. She said growing evidence supports introducing a minimum age for social media access, with age-based restrictions implemented gradually across different groups.Von der Leyen argued the strongest case is for keeping toddlers away from screens and dig-ital platforms altogether, while children under 13 should access social media only under adult su-pervision and for limited periods. She also backed wider adoption of age verification technologies, stressing that the debate is not about whether children should use social media, but about how and when platforms should be accessible to young users. BizWire
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