The Council of Europe urges caution over proposed social media age bans, arguing platforms must be held accountable for child safety instead.
STRASBOURG: The Council of Europe has urged caution as several European nations consider imposing sweeping social media bans for children, following Australia’s lead.
Human Rights Commissioner Michael O’Flaherty warned that such bans shift safety responsibility from the platforms to the children who must navigate them.
“States should require platforms to prevent and mitigate risks to children’s rights by design and by default, and hold platforms accountable for failures,” O’Flaherty said.
He acknowledged legitimate concerns over excessive screen time harming childhood development and mental health.
Australia has required platforms like TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat to remove under-16s’ accounts since December, under threat of heavy fines.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently said he was open to a social media ban for minors.
French lawmakers passed a bill last month to ban social media use by under-15s, a move championed by President Emmanuel Macron, though it still requires Senate approval.
France, Denmark, Greece and Spain have been pushing for similar action at the European Union level.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has advocated for a minimum age limit but wants expert advice on the bloc’s approach first.
The Strasbourg-based Council of Europe, a 46-member human rights watchdog separate from the EU, oversees the European Convention on Human Rights.
