By Stephen Simon
The European Commission has proposed restricting children under 13 from accessing social media platforms as part of a broader plan to strengthen online safety for young people.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the proposal on Thursday, saying online platforms should do more to protect children from harmful content and other risks associated with social media.
Under the proposed approach, children below 13 would be prevented from opening social media accounts, while platforms would also be required to provide safer accounts designed specifically for children.
The initiative comes amid growing international concern over the effects of social media on young users, including exposure to inappropriate content, online harassment and potentially harmful interactions.
The European Commission is also examining the role of age-verification technology in enforcing the proposed restrictions without requiring children to disclose excessive personal information.
The proposal is part of wider European efforts to impose greater responsibilities on technology companies over the safety of minors online.
The move could also influence the global debate over how governments, parents, schools and technology companies should balance children’s access to digital platforms with the need to protect them from online risks.
For countries such as Nigeria, where social media has become deeply integrated into the lives of young people, developments in Europe could provide another reference point in the continuing debate over children’s digital safety and responsible technology use.
