The Polish Deputy Minister of National Education discussed the complexities of a proposed ban on social media usage for individuals under 15, stressing the need for age verification methods.
Katarzyna Lubnauer, the Deputy Minister of National Education (MEN) in Poland, addressed the controversial proposal of banning social media for users under the age of 15 during a radio interview. This initiative, backed by the Civic Coalition club, is spearheaded by Barbara Nowacka and Roman Giertych. Lubnauer emphasized the intricacies involved in implementing such a ban, particularly the necessity for verifiable age authentication, which might be facilitated through the upcoming European Digital Identity Wallet, although its rollout is expected to take some time.
Poland's approach contrasts with that of Australia, which has opted for biometric solutions. The Deputy Minister clarified that before a ban can be instituted, comprehensive rules must be established regarding which platforms would fall under the restrictions and the applicable ages for these services. Additionally, the ministry is formulating legislation to allow schools to entirely prohibit mobile phone usage on their premises, which is currently limited to restrictions only.
This proposed change aims to impact children and teenagers significantly, reflecting a growing global concern about the influence of social media on youth. Lubnauer reiterated that there exists substantial data underlining the urgency of addressing this issue, thereby indicating a shift in policy focused on protecting minors from potential harm associated with social media engagement.
