The European Parliament has approved an initiative proposing to ban the use of social media by children under the age of sixteen.
This high-profile recommendation is not a law, but it serves as a serious instrument of pressure on the European Commission to prepare a pan-European legislative framework for the protection of minors in the digital environment.
According to a representative of the Office of the European Parliament in Cyprus, the document was developed and adopted precisely on the initiative of deputies who seek to accelerate the creation of a unified security policy for all EU countries. The parliamentarians emphasize that their position reflects the will of European citizens concerned about the growing risks of the online environment: from cyberbullying and data theft to algorithms that affect the psyche of children.
Today, many States are trying to independently regulate minors’ access to digital platforms, but the lack of a unified approach leads to a gap in protection measures. The European Parliament’s proposal could be a starting point for creating clearer rules. Experts note that the European Commission is already studying existing national models, as well as the effects of using social networks on the mental health of adolescents.
In recent years, research has documented an increase in anxiety, sleep disorders, and device addiction in children under the age of sixteen, which is increasing pressure on European lawmakers.
The European Parliament’s initiative also highlights the importance of supporting parents, who are finding it increasingly difficult to control their children’s online behavior. In the future, there may be a unified European age verification system on popular platforms and new transparency standards for social media developers.
In the coming months, the European Commission should present its vision of possible regulation. If the proposal receives the support of the participating countries, Europe will receive for the first time a single law aimed at creating a safe digital space for children.
A source: alphanews.live
https://cyprusbutterfly.com.cy/news/evroparlament-trebuet-zapreta-soczsetej-dlya
