European Union Social Media Bill for Children
The European Union is announcing a new law aimed at protecting children from the risks of virtual media and enforcing strict security rules on platforms.
To protect children from the negative effects of virtual media, the European Union will announce the new EU Children's Act bill on Thursday, featuring age limits and algorithmic restrictions.
Introduction of the Bill
Prepared following demands from member states, notably France and Greece, as well as families, the EU Children's Act will be presented in the European Parliament by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
With this regulation, it is aimed to bind children's access to virtual platforms to much stricter rules across twenty-seven EU countries.
Age Limit Debates
One of the prominent topics in the bill is the age limit to be applied for access to virtual platforms.
It was reported that officials are evaluating the options of a complete ban for those under thirteen, as recommended by expert panels, and the fifteen-year age limit requested by France.
Mandate for Safe by Design
It is stated that in her presentation, Von der Leyen will draw attention to the fact that platforms used by children must be secure right from the design stage.
Along with the regulation, companies are expected to take steps to prevent minors from spending excessive time in front of the screen.
Features to be Restricted
Companies will be required to disable software features such as notifications that encourage excessive use and infinite scrolling.