EU report urges ban on toxic social‑media design features to protect children

Former Facebook employee and whistleblower Kelly Stonelake argues that blanket age bans on social‑media platforms do not safeguard children. An independent panel presented its final report to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in early July, recommending that governments ban addictive design elements such as infinite scroll, autoplay and algorithmic feeds rather than restrict access by age. The panel’s proposal, expected to become legislation after the summer, would require platforms to prove safety in the same way food and automotive products are certified.

Australia pioneered a ban on users under 16, but a compliance report found major enforcement gaps and no measurable drop in cyber‑bullying or image‑based abuse, with over half of 12‑ to 15‑year‑olds still maintaining active accounts. Canada, Spain, Brazil and Germany are also moving toward requiring tech firms to meet third‑party‑verified safety standards. Stonelake calls for more governments to shift focus from restricting access to eliminating the toxic features that harm young users’ health and well‑being.