Antonia Torrens, COFACE Families Europe president, has been invited to join a special panel to advise the European Commission on child safety online and potential age limits for social media platforms in Europe.
In the European Union, minors are protected and empowered online by one of the world’s most comprehensive toolbox for child safety, which includes:
- the Digital Services Act (DSA) and its guidelines on the protection of minors,
- the Safer Internet Centres under the Better Internet for Kids Strategy (BIK+),
- an age verification solution being piloted in several Member States and a strategy on mental health,
- new initiatives such as the Cyberbullying Action Plan.
However, already being a frontrunner does not mean that the EU cannot do more. In her 2025 State of the Union address, President von der Leyen acknowledged the benefits digital technologies, including social media, offer to minors – alongside with risks, such as cyberbullying, adult content, self-harm promotion, and addictive algorithms.
To better protect and empower minors online, the President announced that she would commission a panel of specialists to advise on the best approach for Europe on child safety online and potential age restrictions for social media. The panel brings together specialists from various fields, including health, neuroscience, psychology, computer science, child rights, and digital literacy, from across the EU.
The Special Panel is tasked to explore key issues for the online safety of children, such as a harmonised EU age limit for social media across the EU, tailored protections based on age and risk, and educational measures to promote responsible social media use.
By summer 2026, it will deliver its recommendations to guide potential further action at EU level.
