Amid growing concerns over children’s safety online, several European countries — including France, Greece, and Spain — have proposed a new initiative to regulate minors’ access to social media platforms. The proposal, presented during a ministerial meeting in Luxembourg on Friday, aims to establish a unified digital age of consent across the European Union, requiring parental approval for children below a certain age.
This comes as experts and policymakers raise alarms about the addictive nature of social media platforms and the increasing exposure of young users to harmful content, including cyberbullying, misinformation, and hate speech.
European push to protect children online
Greek Minister for Digital Governance, Dimitris Papastergiou, emphasized the urgency of the issue:
“Europe must act quickly and appropriately,” he stated during the meeting.
French Digital Affairs Minister Clara Chappaz added:
“We have an opportunity we cannot miss — that’s the message I’ve come to deliver to the European Commission today.”
A unified digital age across the EU
The Greek-led proposal calls for the adoption of a standard digital age of consent throughout the EU. Below this age, minors would not be allowed to access social media without explicit parental consent. While some EU countries already apply similar measures nationally, this initiative seeks to harmonize regulations at the European level to close legal loopholes and better enforce protections.
The proposal has received early support from other EU members, including Denmark, which will assume the rotating presidency of the EU Council in July 2025, and has committed to making the issue a top priority.
Growing pressure on tech platforms
This push underscores the increasing pressure on social media giants to take greater responsibility in protecting younger users. Implementing a unified digital age may require technical adaptations and robust age verification systems, but it could also mark a significant shift in Europe’s digital governance.
A global trend toward online child protection
Europe’s move reflects a wider global trend, as countries like the United States also explore ways to restrict minors’ access to online platforms. With growing awareness of the psychological and social risks of excessive screen time among youth, establishing a clear digital age of consent is likely to become a pillar of future digital policy worldwide.
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