To ban or not to ban social media for minors?

 

Rising fears about online safety are pushing more EU capitals to propose social media restrictions, driven by frustration with sluggish EU enforcement 

Czechia’s announcement last week that it is considering restrictions on social media for children adds to a growing list of EU countries pushing for national action.

However, the European Commission is wary of this national momentum, which is moving into areas already covered by EU law. Proof of this was the announcement last Tuesday by Commission President von der Leyen of discussing an EU-wide social media age restriction this upcoming summer.

The EU’s tech chief Henna Virkkunen has been clear that ensuring a safe online space is the goal, rather than an EU-wide social media ban for children. (...)