The European Union (EU) has demanded explanations from major digital platforms, including Snapchat and YouTube, on how they are protecting children from online harm, as member states weigh continent-wide restrictions on minors’ access to social media.
The move forms part of the EU’s broader enforcement of its Digital Services Act (DSA), a sweeping regulation aimed at curbing illegal content and ensuring user safety online. The European Commission on Friday confirmed that it has sent formal requests for information to Snapchat, Apple, and Google, seeking details on measures taken to shield children from harmful or illegal digital content.
Specifically, the commission wants Snapchat to clarify what steps it has taken to block users under 13 and prevent access to illicit products such as drugs and vapes. Apple’s App Store and Google Play have been asked to explain how they stop children from downloading apps with gambling, sexual, or other harmful content, including so-called “nudify apps” that generate non-consensual sexualised images.
“Privacy, security and safety have to be ensured, and this is not always the case. That’s why the commission is tightening the enforcement of our rules,” said EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen ahead of a meeting of EU ministers in Denmark.
The commission also wants YouTube to provide details on its recommender system after reports of harmful content being promoted to minors.
Although a request for information does not indicate a violation of the law, it can lead to formal investigations or fines under the DSA if non-compliance is later established.
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The EU’s latest actions follow growing pressure from several member states, including France and Spain, which have called for age limits on social media use. Inspired by Australia’s recent ban on social media for users under 16, Brussels is now exploring whether such a restriction could be adopted across the 27-nation bloc.
EU telecom ministers, meeting in Denmark on Friday, are expected to back a proposal to examine a bloc-wide “digital age of majority”, an idea championed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. She recently announced plans to convene an expert panel to assess the feasibility of such a policy.
Denmark, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, has taken a leading role in pushing for stricter child-safety measures online. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced earlier this week that Denmark would introduce a ban on social media for children under 15, echoing France’s existing requirement for parental consent for users below that age.
The EU is already probing Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, as well as TikTok, over concerns that their platforms are addictive for children and fail to adequately protect young users from harmful content.
If enforced, a bloc-wide regulation could mark one of the most far-reaching online safety initiatives in Europe’s digital governance history.
