According to an exclusive report by the website 'Europe Dynamics', the European Commission is expected to announce plans to ban the use of social media by minors within the EU in September.
Several EU officials and diplomats revealed that European Commission President Von der Leyen is expected to announce the relevant proposals during her annual 'State of the Union' address at the European Parliament on September 16.
A European Commission official stated that the relevant legal framework has not yet been finalized. However, this measure is expected to pave the way for other subsequent EU regulatory measures, requiring major social platforms to prohibit children under the minimum age from registering accounts.
A research and consultation group on online safety for minors is expected to submit a report by July 13th, providing recommendations to the European Commission.
In the past few months, governments in EU countries have continuously pressured for stronger measures to protect children from online threats. Reports indicate that this move marks the most explicit stance taken by the EU since the introduction of age restrictions on social media across the entire Union.
It is currently unclear at what age the European Commission will set the minimum age requirement for using social media, as well as how these restrictive measures will be implemented. Governmental bodies in EU countries have proposed various solutions, including requiring minors to obtain parental consent before using social media, and implementing comprehensive restrictions through age verification technologies.
