The State Duma denied information about the ban on social networks for children

The State Duma is not considering initiatives to ban social networks for children and teenagers, as well as initiatives to verify age, said State Duma deputy Anton Gorelkin.

“The State Duma does not consider initiatives to ban social networks for children and adolescents, just as initiatives related to age verification are not considered. And I believe that such initiatives are redundant today,” Gorelkin said at the session “From digital identification to digital trust. How can the state and business build a single contour” as part of the Digital Solutions forum.

According to him, it is parents who should control the use of social networks by children, and the task of the state is to be an organizer and provide them with effective control tools. The deputy recalled that in accordance with the law, it is parents and guardians who are responsible for children.

“Direct bans will not work well here. We are clearly illustrated by the experience of countries like Australia, which have banned them. But children there continue to use social networks, go to niche platforms, to some small platforms and continue to communicate,” he added.

Gorelkin also noted that today many developed countries are either thinking about introducing such a ban, or have already introduced it to some extent. However, in his opinion, bans for children do not work well.

“I remember myself very well as a child, and the stricter the ban was, the guys and I, of course, tried to somehow overcome it, so nothing has changed here,” the parliamentarian concluded.