EU “Kids Act” proposed to shield children from social media

 The European Union will be proposing a new law on Thursday that aims to shield young users, mainly children, from the harms of social media.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen is set to introduce an age limit for minors accessing certain social media platforms a day before the new law proposal in Brussels on Thursday; a proposal which has been picking up traction especially in member nations France and Greece.

On Wednesday, Von der Leyen will be addressing the proposed age limit in a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, spokesman Olof Gill told reporters.

Von der Leyen is aiming for social media platforms to be “safe by design” which means removing addictive features that encourage excessive use in impressionable young people.

The chief, along with top EU members, have also considered banning social media access entirely for children under 13, which an expert panel has recommended, or under 15 which France recommended.

The EU will be looking toward Australia as the country made history by being the first to ban social media for under 16s as governments and experts became increasingly concerned by the negative impact on children’s mental and physical health, proven by multiple studies.