Governments Push Social Media Curbs for Minors in 7 Countries as Backlash Against Big Tech Grows
Updated
Updated · POLITICO Europe · Aug 12
Governments Push Social Media Curbs for Minors in 7 Countries as Backlash Against Big Tech Grows
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO Europe · Aug 12
Summary
Vietnam has become the latest government to propose restricting minors’ access to social media, extending a fast-spreading policy push now visible across at least seven countries.
Spain, Greece, Australia, Brazil, Rwanda and the United States have all advanced similar ideas in less than a year, showing support for youth social-media limits cutting across left-right political lines.
Child protection is the central rationale: policymakers increasingly argue that heavy online use harms young people most and that minors are especially vulnerable on digital platforms.
Public anger at major tech companies is also helping drive the proposals, turning tougher rules on youth access into politically attractive legislation well beyond any single region.
As governments globally ban minors from social media, will invasive age verification tools expose children to worse privacy risks than the platforms themselves?
With widespread evasion of recent youth social media bans, could regulating addictive platform designs be safer and more effective than outright blocking access?