HORSENS, Denmark — Estonia has voiced its opposition to the European Union’s initiative aimed at further restricting children’s access to social media, as articulated by its digital minister in a recent interview.
This stance comes amidst a growing consensus among EU member states advocating for a digital age of majority, which would limit social media access for children below a specific age, marking a significant effort to enhance online safety for younger users.
Estonia’s commitment to an inclusive information society
During a ministerial meeting held in Denmark on Friday, a declaration supporting the concept of a digital age of majority was presented. While most EU nations, along with Norway and Iceland, endorsed this initiative, Estonia and Belgium refrained from signing. Liisa-Ly Pakosta, Estonia’s minister of justice and digital affairs, emphasized that Estonia champions an information society that actively includes young individuals.
Pakosta further articulated Estonia’s preference for enforcing existing protective regulations, such as the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, instead of imposing new age restrictions. This regulation prohibits children under 13 from giving consent for their data to be processed, although individual countries can opt to raise this age limit.
“An age limit on social media would be a very easy thing to do,” Pakosta remarked, urging instead for enhancements in digital education to equip children for the modern landscape.
“Estonia believes in an information society and including young people in the information society,” said Pakosta.
Debate over age restrictions intensifies
In response to the declaration’s assertion that one in ten children exhibit “problematic” social media use, Pakosta advocated for a thorough examination of the underlying issues affecting these children.
Caroline Stage Olsen, Denmark’s minister for digital government, commented on Estonia’s refusal to sign the EU-wide commitment, suggesting that avoiding the establishment of a minimum age threshold for social media is a “straightforward solution.” She acknowledged the complexities involved in making such decisions at the national level.
Stage Olsen described a digital age of majority as a “radical move” that is essential when considering the well-being of children.
Belgium’s public modernization minister, Vanessa Matz, explained that her country did not sign the declaration due to a veto from the Flanders region, but emphasized Belgium’s commitment to promoting online safety during her attendance at the meeting.
Meanwhile, although the Netherlands endorsed the declaration, it expressed concerns regarding certain elements, particularly those related to age verification, which Digitalisation Minister Eltje van Marum deemed “intrusive.” He noted that age verification is more justifiable for products with established legal age limits and recognized harm to children, like alcohol and tobacco.
The discussion has gained momentum following European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s strong support for EU-wide measures, including the formation of a panel of experts to explore potential implementation of a social media ban. However, legal experts assert that the authority to set age restrictions lies primarily with national governments, not the EU.
In a related development, the Danish government recently announced its intention to implement parental controls for various social media platforms catering to children under 15. This initiative reflects a growing concern regarding children’s interactions with social media.
Both tech industry advocates and child rights organizations have expressed doubts regarding the effectiveness of social media bans, indicating a need for a more nuanced approach to ensuring children’s safety online.