The hague: The Dutch government has thrown its support behind establishing a unified European age limit for social media usage, collaborating with Spain on proposals to create a comprehensive EU-wide strategy. This initiative was announced by Dutch State Secretary for Digital Affairs, Aerdts, during a broadcast by NOS.

According to Anadolu Agency, Aerdts highlighted concerns shared by children and young individuals about encountering harmful online content that affects their well-being and consumes more of their time than intended. He noted that a growing number of European nations are advocating for such regulations.

The Netherlands and Spain emphasized the importance of ensuring that any age-verification systems are "privacy-friendly" and that proposed regulations are thoroughly evaluated to avoid unnecessary infringement on children's fundamental rights, such as freedom of expression. They also stressed that the age limit should be "future-proof," eliminating the need for frequent revisions.

Additionally, both countries advocated for supplementary measures to encourage the safe use of social media. The Dutch governing coalition is pushing for an "enforceable European minimum age of 15," although the joint document with Spain did not specify an exact age preference. Aerdts, however, confirmed to NOS that the Dutch government still favors 15 as the minimum age.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced plans to unveil a detailed proposal next week focused on safeguarding children from online risks. An advisory committee for the European Commission has suggested prohibiting independent social media use by children under 13, with von der Leyen describing these recommendations as "very convincing."

While several European countries are contemplating national restrictions, a standardized EU-wide minimum age for social media use does not yet exist. Greece intends to implement a ban on users under 15 starting January 1, 2027. Denmark, Spain, and Austria are also working on national restrictions. In contrast, France's proposed prohibition on users under 15 was halted by the Constitutional Council before its planned implementation in September.