The European Union is working on new rules to protect children from the addictive designs of social media platforms such as TikTok, Meta and X, EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on May 12.
“Sleep deprivation, depression, anxiety, self-harm, addictive behaviour, cyberbullying, grooming, exploitation, suicide. Risks are multiplying fast,” she said in a speech in Copenhagen.
“These risks are the reality of the digital world. They are not accidental. They are the result of business models that treat our children’s attention as a commodity.”
Ms von der Leyen said the commission would specifically target “addictive and harmful design practices” in its Digital Fairness Act (DFA), due to be proposed towards the end of 2026.
The DFA would also set strict limits on the use of artificial intelligence in social media, she said, while advocating a minimum age for social media access.
Ms von der Leyen said the EU must consider setting a minimum age for access to social media, adding that the commission might make a proposal in the summer on the issue following recommendations from a panel of experts.
“The question is not whether young people should have access to social media, the question is whether social media should have access to young people,” she said.
Hellbound and Down 