A European Union expert group will start working to assess whether children should have age limitations on social media, with recommendations expected by summer.
An expert group convened by the European Union (EU) is set to begin its work on Thursday to explore whether children should be subject to age restrictions on social media platforms, with recommendations anticipated by summer. This initiative is spearheaded by an advisory body launched by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in September, tasked with advising the Commission on potential additional measures to strengthen the protection of minors online.
This initiative follows developments in Australia, where legislation introduced in December mandates social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat to remove accounts belonging to users under the age of 16, or face significant monetary penalties. The actions in Australia may have inspired similar considerations within the EU, indicating a growing global concern regarding children's safety on digital platforms.
European Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier announced that the working group will hold a series of meetings to provide recommendations to the Commission on possible additional measures to protect children online. However, the Commission has not disclosed the names of the experts involved, which raises questions about transparency and the inclusivity of the perspectives considered in this important decision-making process regarding children's rights and online safety.
