Europe Raises the Age for Using Social Media to 15 with Strict Regulations
European governments are taking significant measures to raise the minimum age for social media use to 15, highlighting concerns over mental health among minors.
European governments are accelerating efforts to reshape the digital landscape, as concerns over the mental health of minors have escalated from mere academic discussions to a comprehensive 'legislative uprising'. Recently, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis joined a growing coalition of European leaders advocating for a ban on social media use for children under 15. He describes these platforms as 'extremely harmful', emphasizing the need to protect younger generations from their detrimental effects.
In support of this initiative, Babis announced his full endorsement of the proposal to raise the digital adulthood age in a video message shared on his official accounts. This declaration aligns with a government plan led by Deputy Prime Minister Karel Havlicek, which aims to present a bill to the Czech Parliament by the end of the year. This legislative push in Prague is poised to combat what officials are calling 'digital poison', pointing to expert consensus that unrestricted exposure to addictive algorithms at an early age significantly hinders healthy psychological and social development.
Other European countries, including France and Germany, are considering similar measures as part of a broader movement advocating for stricter regulations on social media platforms. As leaders across Europe grapple with the implications of pervasive digital landscapes, these actions signal a shifting paradigm in the way society views and interacts with technology, particularly concerning the welfare of children in today's digital age.