European Parliament Supports Social Media Ban for Under 16 years

The European Parliament has called for a ban on social media use for children under 16, voting in favour of a resolution aimed at tackling the growing risks of digital addiction, online manipulation and mental health harms linked to major platforms. 

MEPs said the proposal is intended to support parents and guardians as online environments become increasingly immersive and harder to regulate. 

The



resolution urges EU member states to consider age-based restrictions, stronger identity verification tools, and mandatory safety-by-design rules for tech companies.

Lawmakers cited rising concerns over addictive design features, exposure to harmful content, data harvesting, and the influence of algorithms on young users. The resolution also calls for clearer transparency obligations for platforms that target minors and stricter advertising limitations.