Tackling mental health issues among young people caused by online platform use

Subject: Tackling mental health issues among young people caused by online platform use

Various studies suggest that the more time young people spend on social media, the more likely they are to develop symptoms of depression1. In addition, heavy use of social media creates filter bubbles which, in some areas, can be harmful to the health of young people or even put their lives at risk, e.g. through the algorithm-fostered consumption of posts that depict suicidal thoughts or self-harm2. The self-mutilation depicted on platforms is shocking, and reactions in the respective filter bubbles ensure that some people feel encouraged to show even more. A large number of such posts are shared tens of thousands of times.

What specific action is the Commission taking, including in connection with implementation of the Digital Services Act, to prevent serious psychological consequences for young people arising from increased consumption of the content described above?

Submitted: 2.9.2024

1 https://www.springermedizin.de/depression---soziale-medien--/25371132

2 https://www.klicksafe.de/en/selbstverletzendes-verhalten

Answer given by Executive Vice-President Vestager on behalf of the European Commission (19 November 2024)

The Commission takes the impact that social media and excessive screen time can have on (young) people’s well-being and mental health very seriously.

It has already taken action, in particular by initiating proceedings under the Digital Services Act (DSA) (1) against TikTok (2), Instagram (3) and Facebook (4) to investigate whether these companies have infringed the DSA by failing to diligently assess the systemic risk associated with the algorithmic exposure to content that could potentially cause harm when encountered repeatedly and by failing to put in place reasonable, proportionate and effective mitigation measures that are tailored to this specific risk.

Moreover, the Commission is drafting guidelines to assist providers of online platforms that are accessible to minors to comply with their obligation to put in place appropriate and proportionate measures to ensure a high level of privacy, safety and security of minors, on their services.

The new Better Internet for Kids Strategy also proposes concrete measures to address the risks and challenges children face in the digital sphere (5).

Protecting the mental health of children and young people is one of the aims that the communication on a comprehensive approach to mental health (6) addresses, which has a flagship initiative to promote ‘healthy screens, healthy youth’.

Additionally, the Commission adopted an initiative on integrated child protection systems to encourage national authorities to put in place systemic solutions to tackle violence against children, online and offline (7).

1 1https://www.springermedizin.de/depression---soziale-medien--/25371132

2 2https://www.klicksafe.de/en/selbstverletzendes-verhalten

1 ∙ ⸱ Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market For Digital Services and amending

Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act), OJ L 277, 27.10.2022, p. 1-102. 2 ∙ ⸱ https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/list-designated-vlops-and-vloses#ecl-inpage-tiktok 3 ∙ ⸱ https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/list-designated-vlops-and-vloses#ecl-inpage-metaplatforms 4 ∙ ⸱ See footnote 3. 5 ∙ ⸱

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: A Digital Decade for children and youth: the new European strategy for a better Internet for kids (BIK+), COM(2022) 212 final, https://eur- lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2022:212:FIN 6 ∙ ⸱

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on a comprehensive approach to mental health, COM(2023) 298 final, https://health.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-06/com_2023_298_1_act_en.pdf 7 ∙ ⸱ Commission Recommendation on developing and strengthening integrated child protection systems in the best interests of the child, C(2024) 2680 final, https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/36591cfb-1b0a-4130-985e-332fd87d40c1_en?filename=C_2024_2680_1_EN_ACT_part1_v8.pdf