Restriction of Freedom or Protection of Children’s Rights?

A new paper, published by the German National Academy of Sciences, Leopoldina, focuses on the risks of intensive social media use for children and adolescents.
While social media can have positive effects, studies show that a heavy use is associated with increased mental, emotional, and social problems such as depression, anxiety, attention deficits, and sleep disorders.

The researchers advocate for the precautionary principle: preventive measures should be taken, even if the exact risks have not yet been fully  scientifically established.

In concrete terms, their recommendations include legal age limits and feature restrictions:
Children under the age of 13 should not be allowed to have social media accounts, and 13- to 15-year-olds should only have access with parental consent. For 13- to 17-year-olds, the paper calls for age-appropriate design, a ban on personalised advertising and the restrictions on algorithmic recommendations as well as the possibility to disable addictive features such as push notifications and endless scrolling. In addition, smartphones should not be permitted in daycare centres and in schools up to, and including, grade 10.

According to the Leopoldina, such measures should primarily be implemented at the EU level, for example through the introduction of the »EUDI Wallet« as a privacy-compliant digital proof of age. The authors also recommend introducing a binding curriculum for digital literacy in daycare centres and schools, training professionals to detect problematic use at an early stage, and launching public health campaigns for families.

Further research is needed to clarify both the mechanisms at work and the effectiveness of protective measures. The ultimate goal is not only to shield children and adolescents from harm, but also to equip them with the skills to use social media thoughtfully and healthily.