EU lawmaker Lukas Sieper calls for bloc-wide social‑media rules to protect children

German MEP Lukas Sieper (Renew) told the EU Perspectives podcast that fragmented national regulations on social‑media platforms are ineffective and that the EU must adopt a single set of rules. He warned that platforms contribute to rising child addiction, mental‑health problems, radicalisation, illegal markets and even real‑world violence, citing a recent school attack in Germany that he linked to pressure from online forums.

Sieper highlighted the economic dimension, noting a Renew‑group estimate that mental‑health issues among teenagers could cost the European economy €1.7 trillion between 2024‑2033. He urged platforms to take greater responsibility for their algorithms, improve detection of disinformation, and support digital‑literacy programmes. The MEP argued that without a common EU framework, children across cities from Warsaw to Rome face the same harmful content, and that privacy cannot shield users who incite violence.

The proposal seeks a unified regulatory standard that would address public‑health risks, curb illicit online commerce, and safeguard democratic discourse across the bloc.