Key Moments:
- The European Parliament’s IMCO Committee adopted a report with 32 votes in favor, 5 against, and 9 abstentions to enhance child protections on digital platforms.
- Proposals include raising the minimum digital age to 16 unless parental consent is provided and banning gambling-style features like loot boxes in games for minors.
- Lawmakers advocate for stricter enforcement of the Digital Services Act, with potential penalties such as significant fines or operational bans for repeat offenders.
Legislative Push for Enhanced Child Protections
The European Parliament is moving forward with new recommendations to bolster child safety on social media and online gaming platforms. These proposals go beyond platform design by seeking corporate accountability from digital companies, including the possibility of holding senior executives personally responsible for repeated violations of the Digital Services Act (DSA).
Committee Vote and Enforcement Measures
The Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO) of the European Parliament voted by a margin of 32–5, with nine members abstaining, to adopt a report urging rigorous enforcement of the DSA by the European Commission. The report warns that platforms which repeatedly fail to meet child protection requirements could face substantial fines or even removal from the EU market.
| Vote Results | Outcome |
|---|---|
| For | 32 |
| Against | 5 |
| Abstained | 9 |
PRESS RELEASE 🔴
New EU measures needed to make online services safer for minorsEnforce Digital Services Act quickly and ban harmful practices such as addictive design and gambling-like game features to protect minors, say MEPs.@SchaldemoseMEP https://t.co/H0eJxae7O8
— IMCO Committee Press (@EP_SingleMarket) October 16, 2025
Tightening Access and Limiting Harmful Platform Features
The proposals recommend that minors from age 13 can access social media, video-sharing sites, and AI companions only with parental supervision. However, a digital minimum age of 16 should be established unless parental consent is explicitly granted. The intention behind these guidelines is to enhance privacy for children and mitigate experiences with potentially dangerous content.
The report further advocates restrictions on features that may encourage excessive use or negative mental health effects among younger users, such as autoplay, infinite scrolling, disappearing stories, and feeds generated by algorithms.
Ban on Gambling-Style Elements and Measures Against Exploitation
Lawmakers are calling for a prohibition of loot boxes and related gambling-style mechanisms in games accessible to minors, emphasizing risks related to impulsive spending and exploitative revenue strategies. The report also highlights concerns about “kidfluencing,” where minors participate as paid influencers or creators, which can open the door to data misuse, exploitation, and undue commercial pressure.
Highlight on Platform Accountability and Technology Controls
Additionally, the proposals urge digital platforms to incorporate privacy-focused age verification systems while maintaining full responsibility for secure online environments. There are calls for preventative steps against manipulation through non-consensual content and to ensure that chatbots and AI companions do not cause financial or emotional harm to younger users. The enforcement of the EU AI Act is also part of the agenda.
Parliament’s Perspective and Next Steps
Danish MEP Christel Schaldemose, author of the report, emphasized the necessity of preventive strategies, stating: “We need a higher bar for access to social media and stronger safeguards for minors using online services,” she said. “My report calls for safety-by-design principles and a ban on the most harmful engagement mechanisms.”
This initiative comes as a response to findings from a Eurobarometer survey, which reported increased reliance by young Europeans on digital platforms for entertainment, information, and social connections. In light of these trends, lawmakers are emphasizing EU-wide measures that require greater corporate accountability and safer platform design to provide better protection for minors.
- Author
Daniel Williams
