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Denmark recently introduced an age limit for social media. A lower age limit of 15, which can be lowered to 13 with parental approval. There are several reasons why younger children should often not have access to social media. Bullying is one reason. The influence of advertising and recruitment to criminal groups is another argument for a lower age limit. The question is how this can be controlled.

EU working on age limit verification

Although there is a formal age limit for viewing, for example, porn and gambling websites, in reality there is no control of the age limit. The EU is working on a solution that requires verification through national ID cards to access such sites. The work is primarily aimed at websites with an 18-year age limit. The idea is that this solution should be flexible, so that it can, for example, require verification of the age limit to, say, 13 years.

It’s strange that such verification has taken so long. For example, only a self-declared confirmation that I am over 18 years old is the verification on websites with porn. A proper and reliable verification has been requested for a long time on such websites.

Why an age limit?

Bullying is something that has always existed among children. What distinguishes bullying on social media from other forms of bullying is that the bullying is more extensive. The child can never escape the bullying. Bullying at school has always been a problem. When bullying continues on social media, children who are bullied never get a break from the bullying. It thus becomes even more intense.

The idea behind the introduction of an age limit is that children who are bullied will be less exposed to harassment by introducing an age limit. If children do not have a social platform, there will be no room for bullying on the internet is the idea. The question is whether this is the case. Children are also exposed to the influence of advertising aimed at children that social media creates through its algorithms.

What exactly is social media?

The definition of what constitutes social media is also unclear. One definition could be a website where you have to log in with a username and password. But what about the websites of associations and sports teams? Where members may have access to information and discussion. Should the same age limit apply there and where is the limit?

I am very doubtful that such a ban would be appropriate. A blog is easy to create. Anyone can do it, including children. No one can regulate the content of blogs, as long as they do not violate the laws of the individual countries. A child can actually create a blog quite easily. Perhaps the bullying will find other arenas, perhaps in blogs?

The big responsibility lies with parents. Keep an eye on what your children are doing online. Perhaps your child is being bullied or is the one doing the bullying? Pay attention and care.

Sources:

Politico: An EU age limit for social media? Get the lawyers in

European Commission: The EU approach to age verification

AP: Denmark’s government aims to ban access to social media for children under 15