Stricter Social Media Rules
Governments Across the Globe Intensify Child Social Media Safeguards and Age Restrictions
Anonymous
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Ireland’s communications minister, Patrick O’Donovan, described next week’s European Parliament “state of the union” address by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as a major deadline for determining the EU-wide position on age restrictions. He said a clear majority of member states was urging the European Commission to act, though countries may support different minimum ages ranging from 13 to 16.
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In India, the Supreme Court sought responses from the Ministries of Electronics and Information Technology, Law, and Labour to the petition. Chief Justice Surya Kant said, “We need some safeguard in India,” while Justice Joymalya Bagchi said, “There should be some firewalls.”
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South Carolina officials recommended specific online-safety measures after the kidnapping case, including disabling location sharing, warning children not to disclose passwords or home addresses, and watching for predators who offer gifts, try to isolate children from family, or rapidly build trust. Sheriff Bill Rhyne said, “We need parents to be engaged with their kids, have open communication with their kids.”
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An Irish media-regulator survey found that two-thirds of children believe a social-media ban would not work because they could circumvent it; social-media use also rose sharply by age, from about 25% among 9- to 11-year-olds to 90% among 16- and 17-year-olds.
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Vermont’s online-safety rulemaking follows a $92.7 million settlement with Meta over allegations that Instagram was designed to be addictive. The state says 77% of high-school students check social media multiple times daily, while proposed rules would address features such as endless scrolling that can make it difficult for young users to stop.
Governments worldwide are tightening rules on social media for children, targeting both who can access platforms and how those platforms operate. Vermont secured a $92.7 million settlement from Meta over addictive design features, while India's top court demanded safeguards requiring parental consent and age verification. Ireland is pushing the EU to set a common age limit—possibly 16—to protect minors from grooming, exploitation, and addiction across Europe.
The push reflects growing alarm over social media harms. A South Carolina kidnapping case involving a 12-year-old who met a predator online has prompted renewed warnings. Meanwhile, 77% of Vermont high school students check social media multiple times daily, and Irish usage jumps from 25% among 9- to 11-year-olds to 90% among teenagers aged 16–17.
India's Top Court Demands Parental Control Over Social Media
India's Supreme Court has ordered the government to respond to a petition calling for parental consent and age verification on social media platforms. Chief Justice Surya Kant stated, "We need some safeguard in India," while Justice Joymalya Bagchi added, "There should be some firewalls." The court seeks responses from the Ministries of Electronics, Law, and Labour by a set deadline.
The petition argues that minors under 18 cannot legally sign contracts under Indian law. Senior Advocate H. S. Phoolka representing the child safety group Just Rights for Children Alliance stated that "the incapacity of a minor to enter into a contract is settled law and cannot disappear when the agreement moves online." If approved, the rules would prevent children from creating independent accounts while allowing supervised, educational access.
Europe Seeks Common Age Limit to Protect Young Users
Ireland's Communications Minister Patrick O'Donovan says next week's European Parliament "State of the Union" address is the deadline for an EU-wide age restriction decision. A clear majority of member states want the European Commission to act, though countries back different minimum ages ranging from 13 to 16. O'Donovan warned that if the EU misses this moment, Ireland will act alone nationally.
An Irish media regulator survey found that 67% of children prefer digital safety education over outright bans, though 49% of parents said restricting access could help children's focus, safety, and mental health. Two-thirds of youth believe they could circumvent age restrictions anyway. Social media usage climbs sharply with age, jumping from roughly 25% among 9- to 11-year-olds to 90% among those aged 16–17.
Vermont Bans Addictive Features After $92.7M Meta Settlement
Vermont won a historic $92.7 million settlement from Meta Platforms over accusations that Instagram was designed to be addictive to minors. The state's new rules, set for 2027, will ban features like endless scrolling, require age verification, and limit data use by teens. Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark called it a "watershed moment" to stop platform design harms.
The rules also impose a two-hour daily limit on Meta apps for users under 18, block notifications between midnight and 6 a.m., and silence alerts during school hours (8 a.m.–3 p.m.). Data shows 77% of Vermont high school students check social media multiple times daily. The settlement reflects a shift: instead of banning youth access entirely, regulators are holding platforms accountable for harmful features.
Law Enforcement Calls for Parental Engagement After Kidnapping
A South Carolina kidnapping case involving a 12-year-old who met a predator online has sparked renewed warnings. Sheriff Bill Rhyne emphasized the need for parent-child communication: "We need parents to be engaged with their kids, have open communication with their kids." Officials recommended specific safety steps like disabling location sharing and teaching children not to disclose passwords or home addresses.
Authorities also warned parents to watch for predators who offer gifts, try to isolate children from family, or build trust rapidly. Experts stress that effective safeguards require both platform rules and family involvement. Education and open dialogue, experts say, work better than bans alone—a finding echoed by Irish survey data showing that most children and parents favor safety training over outright restrictions.
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