EU's pro-competition proposals may expose Google Search to hacking risks. OnePlus exits North America and Europe. San Francisco targets 'nudify' apps. Debate on banning social media for kids. China outsmarts Anthropic's geolocation. Europe seeks its own AI, leveraging the Trump factor.
Countries worldwide are enacting social media bans for youth due to mental health concerns, but child rights organizations warn these measures may create new risks and fail to address root causes, advocating instead for platform redesign and digital literacy.
Former Meta whistleblower Arturo Béjar highlights parental dread over children's online safety, as the UK sets a minimum age of 16 for major social media platforms, following Australia's precedent. Governments worldwide, except the US, are increasingly implementing age restrictions amidst growing distrust of social media platforms' safety measures.
New EU data shows young people spend an average of 4.5 hours daily on screens, rising to over 6 hours on weekends. While many find screen time positive, concerns grow over negative impacts like sadness, stress, and difficulty concentrating. This has fueled calls for social media bans for minors, with some countries already implementing or considering such measures.
Bans on social media for teens often backfire, pushing them to less secure platforms via VPNs and anonymous accounts. Experts argue that digital literacy, trust, and family accountability are more effective than restrictions, which can create a false sense of security for adults.
Multiple countries are implementing or considering bans on social media for children and teens to address risks like cyberbullying and mental health issues. Australia led with a ban for under-16s, followed by announcements from the UK, Austria, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Malaysia, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey.
Multiple countries are enacting or considering social media bans for minors to combat cyberbullying, addiction, and mental health issues. Australia led with a ban for under-16s, followed by proposals in Austria, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Malaysia, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, and the UK.
The European Commission issued a formal warning to Meta on Wednesday, stating the company is not doing enough to keep children under 13 off Instagram and Facebook. Citing evidence that 10-12% of kids under 13 are on at least one platform, Brussels said Meta must strengthen its age verification measures or face fines up to 6% of annual global revenue under the Digital Services Act. This marks the second EU warning to protect minors under new digital rules, following February's action against TikTok.
Australia became the first country to ban social media for children under 16 in December 2025, imposing up to $49.5 million AUD penalties on non-compliant platforms. At least 12 other nations including France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, and the UK have since proposed similar bans targeting children aged 14-16, citing cyberbullying, addiction, mental health issues, and exposure to predators as key concerns. Critics argue the bans are ineffective and raise privacy concerns about invasive age verification.
