EU Commission experts have advised President Ursula von der Leyen that online platforms should be required to prove that they are safe for children. The advice follows a preliminary assessment that the design of Instagram and Facebook breaches the Digital Services Act by encouraging addictive use.

Public backing for proof of safety

A YouGov poll commissioned by Reset Tech in France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain found that roughly three‑quarters of respondents want platforms to demonstrate safety before children are allowed to use them. The same survey showed that 68% would support the removal of features such as infinite scroll and algorithmic feeds for users under 13, and 69% would back limiting access to services that do not meet legal safety standards.

Panel rejects total ban, endorses step‑by‑step access

The EU special panel on child safety online rejected a blanket ban on minors’ use of social media, arguing that such a measure would shift responsibility to families and leave business models unchanged. President von der Leyen agreed, stating that access should be earned gradually rather than granted or denied by a single arbitrary line. She warned that once childhood experiences are compromised they cannot be recovered.

Safety‑by‑design recommendation

The panel recommended a safety‑by‑design model that would require providers to demonstrate that their products are safe before they are marketed to children. The recommendation aligns with recent G7 statements on age‑appropriate design and with national initiatives in several EU member states, but it does not specify how the requirement would be enforced.

Meta case provides legal context

The European Commission opened a formal case against Meta in May 2024, alleging that infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications and recommendation engines push users into an “autopilot” mode. After more than two years the Commission issued a preliminary finding; any fine could reach six per cent of global turnover under the DSA and would be levied after the affected children have become adults.

Age‑verification and profiling under scrutiny

The panel dismissed universal biometric scans and ID checks for age verification as impractical, but left behavioural profiling on the table. Data‑protection authorities cautioned that profiling may be more intrusive than other options and that its accuracy for minors is doubtful. The report does not address the situation of a child denied access to an unsafe platform when no comparable safe alternative exists.

Calls for an ex‑ante certification system

Experts propose that the Commission create an ex‑ante certification system with clear, enforceable standards. Certification would require platforms to disable addictive features by default, ensure that children’s accounts are private from the start and ban manipulative design. A designated accountable entity would need to act quickly on any breach, with penalties strong enough to deter violations.

EU law already imposes strict safety requirements on physical products such as toys, food and electronic devices, including tablets and smartphones. Extending similar standards to the software layer of social‑media apps would close a current regulatory gap. Certification could also shorten the litigation period for cases like the one against Meta.

Interoperability as a safety tool

Interoperability rules could allow users to move to safer services while retaining their contact networks, reducing platform lock‑in. Interoperability would also enable third‑party safety tools, such as content‑filtering extensions or parental‑control apps, to function across different platforms.

Looking ahead

The combination of the panel’s findings, the ongoing Meta case and the YouGov poll gives the Commission a strong mandate to act. President von der Leyen is expected to present a proposal later this year that would embed safety‑by‑design into EU law for users under 13. If the proposal includes certification and interoperability requirements it would represent a significant step toward protecting European children from addictive social media. Until such measures are codified, a gap will remain between the identification of unsafe platforms and the implementation of an enforceable, market‑based safety framework.