Making online platforms safer for minors
MEPs are set to propose bans on harmful practices like addictive design and gambling-like game features, and a minimum age of 16 for social media access.
Parliament will debate on Tuesday, and vote on Wednesday, a report calling for accelerating the enforcement of the EU Digital Services Act and the AI Act, while closing legal gaps to ensure online services are safe for minors to use. Sounding the alarm over the mental health risks and rising social media addiction among children and adolescents, MEPs want to ban the most harmful addictive practices for minors and for the EU to take action against persuasive technologies and practices such as targeted ads, influencer marketing, addictive design, loot boxes and dark patterns. The text proposes a common EU-wide minimum age threshold of 16 years for accessing social media platforms and the development of privacy preserving age assurance systems.
Procedure: own-initiative report
Procedure code: 2025/2060(INI)
Debate: Tuesday 25 November
Vote: Wednesday 26 November
Press conference: Wednesday 26 November, at 15.00 CET