EU and Czech officials face criticism over child social‑media bans, experts call for regulation over prohibition

Governments across Europe are debating blanket bans on social‑media platforms for users under 16, a move already enacted in Australia, Brazil and Malaysia. In the Czech Republic, a law that would prohibit registration for minors without parental consent has sparked public support—around 90 % of citizens favor age limits—but experts warn that enforcement is weak and that false birth‑date entries easily bypass restrictions.

Psychologists and cognitive scientists from Cambridge University argue that total bans could cause more harm than benefit, stressing that the design of platforms, especially algorithmic feeds, drives addictive use. They recommend that regulators focus on mandatory safety features—such as removing endless scrolling, limiting contact with unknown users, and restricting sexualised chatbot interactions—and on tighter oversight of algorithmic recommendation systems under the EU’s Digital Services Act. EU lawmakers, including Czech MEP Ondřej Krutílek, and former drug‑policy coordinator Jindřich Vobořil, argue that partnership with tech companies, rather than outright prohibition, is the more effective route to protect young people’s mental health.