Free on social media only after the age of 16. EU Parliament united in protection of minors online

Brussels – The European crusade for a safer Internet adds another piece. The Strasbourg Parliament adopted today, 26 November, a non-legislative report to protect minors online. The text, approved by a large majority (483 votes in favour, 92 against, and 86 abstentions), aims to strengthen support for the application of the Digital Services Act.

Among the most controversial elements of the report is the proposal to set a minimum age of 16 for free access to social networks, while allowing children aged 13 to 16 to access with parental consent. “These measures will drastically increase the level of protection for minors. We are finally drawing a line. We are clearly saying to the platforms: your services are not designed for minors,” MEP Christel Schaldemose (S&D), the text’s rapporteur, announced in a note.

The new rules 

In the report, not only the ban on 16-year-olds but also support for the Commission’s work to develop an EU age-verification app. In October, the Berlaymont Palace announced the second improved version of an “age verification” instrument, with pilot tests in Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, and Spain.

The Parliament’s attitude is very tough on the liberal rules that have hitherto characterised the internet. MEPs are calling on the EU Commission to prohibit addictive practices, such as infinite scrolling (TikTok version), and to take action against advertising targeted at minors and influencer marketing. The same applies to the presence of children under 16 in online advertising, prohibiting platforms from offering financial incentives for baby influencers.

The new frontier to be fought over then concerns the ethical challenges posed by artificial intelligence. The text calls for urgent action against phenomena such as deepfakes, company chatbots, artificial intelligence agents, and artificial intelligence-based nudity apps (which create non-consensual manipulated images).

Forward in no particular order

 The European approach to regulating internet access is unique in the global landscape, but it is unfolding at different speeds. Some Member States are already introducing specific laws. For example, the French President Emmanuel Macron proposed a law for a “digital age”.

The same applies to Italy, which has imposed the age verification obligation for access to pornographic content. On the other hand, the Nordic countries are less enthusiastic, with a self-regulatory approach. Outside Europe, Australia has enacted a law similar to the Union’s. From December, it will be prohibited for minors under 16 to access the internet. 

Citizens in support of standards 

Over the years, European hyper-regulation has been criticised by EU companies themselves, which have never hidden their doubts through DigitalEurope, the association representing the technology sector. The Union, however, tries to go ahead anyway, strengthened by popular support. According to the 2025 Eurobarometer, more than 90% of Europeans believe there is an urgent need to take action to protect children online, especially in relation to the negative impact of social media on mental health.