Platforms such as Tikkok, Instagram and YouTube are seen in many places as dangerous for the personal development of children. Different EU countries now want to enforce difficult age restrictions for the apps and insert the largest meshes in advance.
France, Greece and Denmark campaigned on Friday at the EU-digital ministers meeting in Luxembourg to allow the platforms of 15 years only and to strictly control the age of the users. They asked the EU committee to submit rules to present this by the EU.
In theory, age restrictions already apply to online networks. Tikok, Instagram, Snapchat and X (formerly Twitter) are allowed, for example, in the EU aged 13 and older, YouTube and Tumblr of 16 years and older. However, users only have to state a date of birth when registering, there is no actual check.
“We were all young – it’s very easy to change your date of birth,” said the French digital minister Clara Chappaz in Luxembourg. “On average, children from seven to eight years old make an account,” she said. “That must change.”
Gain permission from the parents
France wants to oblige the platforms to obtain permission from the parents for small users. Paris had already passed a law for this in 2023, but has not yet received the necessary approval from Brussels. In addition to Greece and Denmark, Spain, Slovenia and Cyprus also participated in the requirements.
They refer to the dangers of children online, from hate speech and bullying to extreme tips for weight loss and pornography to search risks. Excessive time before the screen, anxiety disorders and depression can aggravate and the ability of children to think critically, according to the EU countries newspaper.
Digital ID card as a solution?
Data protection has so far been a problem with a reliable assessment of age. The EU committee therefore wants to develop an app that safely manages personal data and only continues to the platforms whether a user is old enough.
In the future, EU citizens must also be able to charge a digital ID card to their smartphone. The device can then save age and automatically block all apps that are only approved for the elderly.
Due to alleged defects in the protection of children and adolescents, the EU committee is already investigating various platforms, including Tiktok, the Facebook Mother Meta and the Porno providers Youporn, Stripchat, XVideos and XNXX. If the allegations of Brussels are confirmed, companies are confronted with high fines.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
