EU lawmakers propose that youth under 16 be barred from social media without parental consent

European lawmakers approved an opinion recommending that under-16s need parental consent to use social media and that access under 13 be banned entirely. The nonbinding text urges inclusion of such a ban in the proposed Digital Fairness Act and calls for privacy-friendly age verification, limits on targeted advertising and AI safeguards to protect youth #DigitalFairnessAct #EuropeanParliament

Keypoints

Lawmakers propose parental consent for social media users under 16 and an absolute ban for those under 13.
The opinion is nonbinding but aims to influence the European Commission and the upcoming Digital Fairness Act.
It calls for privacy-friendly age verification and stronger enforcement of existing child protection laws online.
The proposal targets practices like targeted advertising, influencer promotions, addictive design features and virtual currencies, and flags AI risks.
Several countries are already moving toward higher minimum ages, and the opinion stresses a unified EU strategy that recognizes parental responsibility.