Internet addiction

Subject: Internet addiction

In November 2023, the Commission launched an investigation in connection with the protection of minors. It sent requests for information to all large online platforms with a significant number of children among their user base (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat), focusing in particular on the effects of these platforms on mental and physical health, such as addiction1. On this basis, owing to alleged breaches of the DSA, it launched two non-compliance procedures in relation to algorithmic systems capable of causing behavioural addiction2 and harm to mental health, prompting pledges from platforms to take down these problematic addictive systems3.

The Commission has mentioned plans to create guidelines on child protection, which will define the framework for the activities of platforms of all sizes in order to put an end to activities harmful to children.

1. What are the findings of the investigation carried out in relation to tackling behavioural addiction to online platforms?

2. Does the Commission have sufficient evidence to warrant more effective and further- reaching methods to tackle the scourge of social networks for the benefit of the mental health and intellectual development of children?

3. According to experts, the recommended minimum age for using social media is 16. Does the Commission intend to take the initiative to raise the minimum age requirements for creating social media accounts?

Submitted: 4.11.2024

1 https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/list-designated-vlops-and-vloses

2 https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/commission-opens-formal-proceedings-against-tiktok-under-

digital-services-act

3 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/STATEMENT_24_2290

Answer given by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen on behalf of the European Commission (21 January 2025)

Research on social media’s impact on minors’ mental health, indicates both potential risks from excessive use and benefits from moderate, responsible use (1).

Protecting and empowering children and young people online is a priority of the Commission, which will launch an EU-wide inquiry on the broader impacts of social media on well-being (2).

The Digital Services Act (DSA) (3) contains provisions to ensure a high level of protection of minors using online platforms. In this regard, formal proceedings under the DSA have been initiated against TikTok (4), Facebook and Instagram (5).

If the Commission finds that the investigated companies are non-compliant, it will take appropriate measures. An example of DSA’s capacity to address addictive design is TikTok’s commitment to permanently withdraw the Lite Rewards programme from the EU (6).

The Commission is preparing guidelines to assist all online platforms in ensuring high levels of privacy, safety and security for minors (7).

To shield minors from age-inappropriate content, the Commission is developing a short-term, privacy preserving solution for age verification for use in certain high-risk scenarios that will be based on the EU Digital Identity Wallet framework (8) and be deployed by Member States in 2025.

These initiatives are in line with the strategy for a better Internet for kids which aims to ensure that every child is protected, empowered and respected online (9).

1 1https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/list-designated-vlops-and-vloses

2 2https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/commission-opens-formal-proceedings-against-tiktok-under-digital-services-act

3 3https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/STATEMENT_24_2290

1 ∙ ⸱ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S245195882400037X

2 ∙ ⸱ Political Guidelines 2024-2029, https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/e6cd4328-673c-4e7a-8683-f63ffb2cf648_en?filename=Political

%20Guidelines%202024-2029_EN.pdf 3 ∙ ⸱

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32022R2065 4 ∙ ⸱ https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_926 5 ∙ ⸱

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_2664 6 ∙ ⸱

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_4161 7 ∙ ⸱

https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/commission-launches-call-evidence-guidelines-protection-minors-online-under-digital-services-act 8 ∙ ⸱ https://ec.europa.eu/digital-building-blocks/sites/display/EUDIGITALIDENTITYWALLET/EU+Digital+Identity+Wallet+Home 9 ∙ ⸱ https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/strategy-better-Internet-kids


















| | )Children have the same rights online as offline. Current EU legislation and policies find the right balance between protecting children from online harm, while empowering them and ensuring their participation in the digital environment. It is important to ensure age-appropriate experiences, considering children’s evolving capacity.