Across the world, increasing concern about children’s exposure to online risks has prompted governments to consider stronger safeguards. From addiction and harmful online challenges to cyberbullying and abuse, authorities are examining new regulatory frameworks aimed at limiting risks for minors. Within Europe, however, the European Commission appears cautious about fragmented national initiatives and is leaning towards a more coordinated policy response.
Growing concern over online risks for minors
The challenges and risks associated with internet use are affecting millions of children globally on a daily basis. Recent developments have placed the issue high on national policy agendas, with many countries introducing restrictions or bans, primarily targeting minors’ use of social media platforms.
These measures respond to a broad range of concerns, including addiction, online challenges that may endanger physical safety or life, increasing incidents of cyberbullying and reports of child abuse linked to digital environments.
National measures and European-level reservations
So far, the measures made public mainly concern policies adopted at national level. These approaches, however, have raised reservations within European institutions.
According to Euractiv, an independent pan-European news network based in Brussels specialising in European Union policy coverage, the European Commission remains cautious about unilateral national actions. The Commission is seeking a more coordinated and unified approach at European level, amid concerns that isolated national initiatives may not effectively address the issue as a whole.
European Commission guidance on protecting minors online
It is noted that last summer the European Commission issued specific guidelines aimed at protecting minors in relation to internet use.
The main recommendations include:
- Default private settings for minors’ accounts, ensuring that personal information, data and social media content are hidden from users with whom minors are not connected, thereby reducing the risk of unwanted contact from strangers.
- Adjustments to platform recommendation systems, with the objective of reducing the likelihood that children encounter harmful content.
- Tools enabling children to block or mute users, while ensuring they cannot be added to groups without explicit consent.
- Restrictions on downloading or capturing screenshots of content posted by minors, intended to prevent unwanted distribution of sexual or personal material and reduce the risk of sexual extortion.
Measures under discussion at European level
Current reporting on potential EU-wide restrictions indicates that several policy options are being discussed. These include:
- Digital age verification
- Horizontal age-based bans
- Verified parental consent mechanisms
- Age-appropriate platform design
- Market access restrictions and sanctions
- Criminal liability for executives
- Codes of conduct and independent audits
These measures are presented as part of ongoing discussions concerning a potential harmonised European framework for protecting minors online.