The European Union has intensified scrutiny of major tech platforms including Apple, Snapchat, and YouTube, demanding detailed explanations of their safeguards against online risks to children. This move comes as 25 EU member states expressed support for exploring bloc-wide age restrictions on social media access, inspired by Australia’s ban for users under 16.
Digital Services Act in Focus
Under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), regulators are investigating how platforms prevent minors from accessing harmful content. Snapchat faces questions about underage user prevention and illicit drug sales, while Apple and Google’s app stores must disclose measures to block downloads of apps promoting gambling, explicit content, or tools to create non-consensual sexual imagery.
Tech Firms Respond
Snapchat emphasized its "deep commitment" to safety features, while Google highlighted YouTube’s parental controls. The EU’s tech chief, Henna Virkkunen, stressed the need for "privacy, security, and safety" as enforcement tightens. Separately, Meta’s Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are under investigation for potential addictive design risks to minors.
Mixed Reactions Among EU States
While most EU countries backed studying age-based social media restrictions, Estonia advocated for digital literacy over bans, and Belgium sought flexibility. Denmark and France are advancing national bans for users under 15, signaling a fragmented approach to balancing child protection with digital access.
