- The EU studies banning social networks for those under 16 years of age
- Australia’s social ban to come into force on December 10, 2025
- Widening debate on privacy and age verification in the EU
The European Parliament is considering banning children under 16 from accessing social media platforms.
This is what emerged from Wednesday’s debate, when 483 members voted in favor of a resolution on how to better protect minors online, Politico Europe reported. Only 92 voted against and 86 abstained to express their preferences.
The European Commission is taking note of the world’s first social media ban for under-16s in Australia, which is expected to come into force on December 10, 2025.
Led by Danish social democrat Christel Schaldemose, the EU resolution now calls on the European Commission to tackle Europe’s “fragmented approach to age guarantees” to ensure consistency across the bloc.
Indeed, age verification has started to be implemented in the EU, but only a few countries have already implemented the new rules under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
Age Verification and Privacy Risk
While the goal behind age verification laws to protect minors from harm online is crucial, both privacy and security experts have expressed concerns about current methods of age assurance, viewing these rules as “a privacy trade-off.”
All internet users, or at least anyone with a social network, should verify their age, not just those under 16.
However, sharing a photo of your face or a government ID with a third-party age verification provider can make your data more vulnerable to leaks or abuse, experts warn. This is a scenario that came true after 70,000 photos of government ID cards were leaked in the United Kingdom. when the third-party provider used by Discord was hacked.
These privacy and data security concerns are exactly why citizens around the world have turned to the best VPN services in the face of new mandatory age controls.
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We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Access a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protect your online security and strengthen your online privacy when you are abroad. We do not support or condone using a VPN service to break the law or conduct illegal activities. Future Publishing does not endorse or approve the consumption of paid pirated content.
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