Although new technology has opened up numerous possibilities for learning, creativity and entertainment, it has also become a dangerous space for young users. Hypersexualized and violent content, suicides and cyberbullying are among the daily harmful content they are exposed to on social media platforms, leading to increased anxiety and/or depression.
The Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament have been pioneering the way towards a safer online space while protecting our private data – first with the Digital Services Act (DSA), and, today, with the publication of the draft report on the protection of minors online. This is why the S&Ds have been urging the Commission to take immediate action on online safety – specifically on the protection of the youngest online – with a particular focus on addictive designs and recommender systems. The Commission should not shy away from taking additional steps, including fines and effective corrective measures under the DSA.
Ahead of the publication of the Commission’s guidelines on the protection of minors online, the S&Ds are pushing a set of measures to help ensure that children can benefit from the opportunities of the internet without being exposed to its dangers.
Christel Schaldemose, S&D MEP and rapporteur on the protection of minors online, said:
“Today, children go to the internet sooner and spend more time online than ever before. According to research, social media pressure has been identified as one of the top five causes of mental health problems for minors. They are exposed to publications featuring violent content such as suicide and murder.
“Recent calls by France, Spain and Greece for a common EU ‘digital majority’ shows to what extent this issue is gaining traction in national parliaments. We need Europe to step up. We cannot simply avoid getting into these discussions.
“We urge the Commission to put on the table realistic proposals to introduce age verification to protect minors online, as well as to help parents against a million dollar industry! Not all families have the means to control the time their kids spend online. This is why, we believe that the primary responsibility to ensure adequate protection of minors online lies with the platforms and digital services providers, and it cannot be passed on to the parents or guardians.
“Our proposals do not aim to censor social media platforms, and we believe that it is time for the Commission to do what it takes in full respect of freedom of speech.”
Alex Agius Saliba, S&D vice-president for communication, campaigns and digital Europe, member of the EP committee on civil liberties, justice and home affairs and co-chair of the Mental Health Intergroup, said:
“We need to protect minors’ well-being from business models that try to make profit from their mental health state. I am alarmed by the recent news about Meta tracking teenagers’ emotional states and using that information to fine-tune advertisement targeting. This shows how Big Tech companies operate.
“Our children are facing the consequences of deliberate addictive design, from infinite scrolling, the promotion of products by influencers, ‘like’ mechanisms promoting approval-seeking behaviour, to the use of algorithm-recommender systems to maximise user engagement. We need to get to the core of the matter and dare to tackle a business model that is resulting in the commercial exploitation of minors.”
Notes to editors
Next July, the European Commission will present its guidelines to ensure that online platforms accessible to minors maintain a high level of privacy, safety and security.
The INI report on the protection of minors was presented today in a meeting of the committee on the internal market and consumer protection (IMCO). MEPs have until 2 July to introduce their amendments.
The report will be voted on in the IMCO committee in October and during the plenary session in November.
