UMVA has learned that proposals to restrict social media use by minors were met with strong objections about the difficulty of enforcing such a ban, sparking a heated debate about the best way to protect young people online.
The concerns were raised during a recent roundtable discussion, where participants argued that a blanket ban could have unintended consequences, such as driving young people to use social media in secret or finding ways to bypass restrictions. This could ultimately put them at greater risk of online harm.
Several bills have been filed in Congress to regulate minors' access to social media and digital platforms, proposing stricter age verification, parental consent requirements, and safeguards against online abuse, addiction, and mental health risks. But experts are questioning whether these measures are effective.
Instead of a ban, participants proposed alternative solutions that focus on designing platforms with safeguards to protect minors and safeguard user privacy. This approach aims to ensure child protection online while allowing young people to participate in the digital space.
A leading expert has called for a graduated safeguards model that prioritizes stronger privacy protections and safeguards consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. This model would push for design-based safeguards, including limits on biometric age verification and safety-by-design defaults.
Another advocate has emphasized the need for safety to be integrated into platform design, rather than relying on a blanket ban. This could include stronger reporting systems, safer algorithms, protection against harmful interactions, and stronger accountability mechanisms.
A recent study has revealed that a significant proportion of children are active internet and social media users, highlighting the need for effective online child protection policies. Countries such as Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brazil have already implemented age-based restrictions on children's social media use.
However, evidence suggests that restrictions alone may be insufficient, and that effective online child protection policies must be complemented by digital literacy initiatives, parental engagement, and broader efforts to influence social norms and online behavior.
