Following the EU summit in Brussels, leaders discussed the importance of establishing a minimum digital age for using social media, emphasizing the protection of minors. They underscored the need to respect privacy while implementing national regulations. The member states have urged the European Commission to execute the Digital Services Act (DSA) and its guidelines pertaining to the protection of minors.

The initiative to enforce such age restrictions would inherently involve the platforms themselves; however, the decision to set and implement these rules is solely under the European Commission’s authority. This highlights the limitations of individual member states, which would not be able to impose additional obligations on major platforms, such as age verification, without EU-wide consensus. As it stands, any decisions regarding social media access for minors will require a coordinated approach at the EU level.

Furthermore, the discussions reflect a broader struggle within the EU concerning compliance with regulations, indicated by recent sentiments expressed against leaders like Viktor Orbán, who have been criticized for their commitment to European values. The conclusion of this summit could lead to significant changes in how social media companies operate regarding age verification and user privacy, marking an important step in the EU's commitment to safeguard its younger population from potential online harms.