1 week ago
Slovakia proposes social-media ban for children under 16
Slovakia’s government wants to stop children under 16 from using social networks.
Parliament must approve the bill before it becomes law.
Children would not be allowed to create new social-network accounts.
People would need to prove their age when they make an account.
The proposal says companies should not receive other personal information during this check.
The government says young people may be more affected by online pressure and harmful content.
It also mentions addiction, disinformation and radicalization as risks.
Other European countries are also considering rules about children’s social-media use.
Slovakia’s government approved a bill proposing to ban social-network use by children under 16.
The proposal would prevent younger children from creating social-network accounts if approved by parliament.
Users would have to prove their age when opening an account, without providers accessing other personal data.
The government cited risks including addictive behavior, social pressure, disinformation, radicalization and harmful content.
The bill says age-verification criteria would follow the European Union’s digital-services rules.
- Who
- Slovakia’s government proposed the measure, which would affect social-network users under 16.
- What
- A bill would ban social-network use by children under 16 and require age verification for account creation.
- Where
- Slovakia, with age-verification criteria linked to European Union digital-services rules.
- When
- The government approved the bill on Wednesday, August 26; the year is not specified.
- Why
- The government says the measure could help prevent addictive behavior, social pressure, radicalization and exposure to other harmful online content.
Key facts
- Proposed age limit
- 16 years old
- Current status
- Approved by Slovakia’s government; parliamentary approval is still required
- Account requirement
- Users would have to prove their age when setting up a social-network account
- Privacy provision
- Providers would not gain access to other personal data through the age check
- Cited risks
- Addiction, social pressure, manipulative practices, disinformation, radicalization and harmful content
- Verification framework
- The criteria would follow European Union digital-services rules
- Regional context
- A growing number of European countries have announced measures regulating social-network ages
Quotes
Slovak government legislative report
Report accompanying Slovakia’s proposed legislation
“In this period, children and younger adolescents are more vulnerable to algorithmic content suggestions, social pressure, manipulative practices, formation of addictive behaviour, disinformation, radicalisation narratives and other forms of harmful content.”
theprint.in
“The proposal reacts to the growing importance of online technologies and social networks in spreading violent, extremist or otherwise harmful behaviour.”
theprint.in
Sources
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