The Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG), together with the HBI and the DSA Observatory, and with support from the Network of Centres (NoC), invites you to a Learning Call Series on the impact of the Digital Services Act (DSA) on the future of global digital policy.
In this session, experts will discuss the protection of minors online and social media bans.
The discussion will feature Jessica Galissaire, Senior Policy Researcher at interface, and Paddy Leerssen from the Institute for Information Law (IViR) at the University of Amsterdam. It will be moderated by Katharina Mosene
Are the kids alright? The Protection of Minors Online and Social Media Bans
Following Australia’s ban on social media for under-16s, many other countries, such as Germany, Austria, Spain, and Great Britain, are considering similar legislation, citing the need to protect minors from the toxicity of social media platforms. Nevertheless, in late July 2026, France became the first EU country to vote for a ban of under-15s from accessing social media. Even EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has announced plans to introduce widespread age verification for social media, as well as app stores, video games and other platforms. While these platforms do pose dangers to children and teenagers, such as being addictive or containing explicit content, many question the effectiveness of simply banning people under a certain age. Is it sensible to ban children and teenagers from these platforms simply because they are toxic, without addressing the toxicity itself? Do young people not have a right to participate in the public sphere, even if it is imperfect? Should the focus not be on strengthening digital literacy across all age groups rather than excluding one? There are also concerns about the technical feasibility of verifying users‘ ages on the platforms, especially with regard to the compatibility with the Digital Services Act.
