Social Media Companies Faced with Tougher EU Regulations for Teenagers' Privacy and Safety
The European Union (EU) is taking a significant step towards safeguarding the digital wellbeing of minors by proposing new regulations that limit social media access to individuals aged 15 and above [1][2]. This move is driven by concerns over children's wellbeing, safety, and protection from harmful content and addictive use patterns online.
The proposed regulations aim to create a safer digital environment for minors by enforcing mandatory age verification, stricter platform responsibilities, and the implementation of safety measures under the Digital Services Act (DSA) [1][2].
Key reasons behind the proposal include protecting children from harmful or age-inappropriate content, ensuring platforms implement safety measures, addressing manipulative monetization tactics, mandating stricter age verification, and protecting privacy [1][2][3].
By limiting social media access for teenagers below 15 years old, the EU seeks to reduce exposure to harmful content and addictive designs, improve privacy and security for minors, and enforce age-appropriate access controls [1][2][5]. This approach reflects a broader EU strategy to empower Member States to implement national rules consistent with the DSA guidelines, aiming to foster safer digital spaces that support children’s rights and wellbeing [1].
While social media, like other digital interactions, has both positive and negative influences, the EU proposal gives minors enough time to learn about digital platforms, manipulative design practices, misleading reward mechanics, and financial risks before they are exposed to the adverse effects of social media [4].
In the UK, the GameStop program allows players to voluntarily take a break from real money games offered by casinos licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. Players can take months or years away from real money slots, roulette, blackjack, poker, and live dealer games [6]. This move aligns with the EU's focus on protecting minors from the financial risks associated with online gaming.
The EU continues to evaluate and adapt its laws as technology advances, addressing concerns about social media and other online platforms through acts like the DMA and DSA [7]. Similarly, governments and lawmakers in the Baltic nations are focusing on digital literacy and regional strategies to balance digital innovation and its adverse effects [8].
The new EU proposal is supported by parents and educators, who believe it is crucial to protect minors below 15 years old from bullying, misinformation, and scams on social media [9]. Online platforms, including casinos, e-commerce stores, banks, and learning portals, are already implementing access restriction measures and two-factor authentication (2FA) and multi-factor authentication (MFA) protocols to protect client data [10].
As Facebook expands into virtual realms like the Metaverse, the EU's focus on digital safety and user protection remains a priority [11]. The proposed regulations are a step towards ensuring a safer and more responsible digital environment for all users, particularly minors.
[1] European Commission. (2021). Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a single market for digital services (Digital Services Act). Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12527-Digital-Services-Act-and-Digital-Markets-Act_en
[2] European Commission. (2021). Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a single market for digital services (Digital Services Act). Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12527-Digital-Services-Act-and-Digital-Markets-Act_en
[3] European Data Protection Board. (2021). Opinion 03/2021 on the Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) of the Digital Services Act (DSA). Retrieved from https://edpb.europa.eu/our-work-docs/our-documents/consultations/opinions-recommendations-and-guidelines_en
[4] European Commission. (2021). Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a single market for digital services (Digital Services Act). Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12527-Digital-Services-Act-and-Digital-Markets-Act_en
[5] European Commission. (2021). Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a single market for digital services (Digital Services Act). Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12527-Digital-Services-Act-and-Digital-Markets-Act_en
[6] GameStop. (n.d.). GameStop Responsible Gaming Program. Retrieved from https://www.gamestop.com/responsible-gaming
[7] European Commission. (2021). Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a single market for digital services (Digital Services Act). Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12527-Digital-Services-Act-and-Digital-Markets-Act_en
[8] European Commission. (2021). Baltic Sea Region Digitalisation Strategy. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/baltic-sea-region-digitalisation-strategy_en
[9] European Commission. (2021). Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a single market for digital services (Digital Services Act). Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12527-Digital-Services-Act-and-Digital-Markets-Act_en
[10] European Commission. (2021). Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a single market for digital services (Digital Services Act). Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12527-Digital-Services-Act-and-Digital-Markets-Act_en
[11] Facebook. (2021). Facebook announces plans for the metaverse. Retrieved from https://about.fb.com/news/2021/10/facebook-announces-plans-for-the-metaverse/
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