Content Policy Archives | Digital Watch Observatory

Pew survey finds majority support social media ban for under-16s

A Pew Research Center survey has found that 56% of US adults support banning children under 16 from using social media sites.

The survey, conducted from 26 May to 1 June 2026 among 9,750 US adults, found that 21% oppose such a ban, while 23% are unsure.

Pew said the findings come as governments around the world weigh stronger restrictions on teenagers’ use of social media.

Support for an under-16 ban extends across major demographic and partisan groups. Pew found that 65% of parents with a child under 18 support the measure, compared with 52% of adults without a child under 18.

Support is also higher than opposition among both Republicans and Democrats. Pew reported that 59% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents support the ban, compared with 54% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning adults.

The survey also found broad support for other measures aimed at minors’ social media use. Around 85% of US adults support requiring parental consent for minors to create social media accounts, while 78% support age verification and 78% support time limits for minors.

Support for these measures has increased since 2023, according to Pew, especially for age verification and time limits.

Why does it matter?

The findings suggest that child online safety restrictions are gaining wider public support in the United States, including across party lines and among adults without children. That could give lawmakers more political space to propose age verification, parental consent and time-limit rules. The survey also shows that support is not limited to outright bans: many Americans favour a broader set of safeguards that would change how platforms verify age and manage minors’ access.

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EU examines harmful design features in online platforms

The second annual report on systemic risks under the Digital Services Act has highlighted online risks faced by children and young people on very large online platforms and search engines.

The report was published by the Board for Digital Services and developed in cooperation with the European Commission. It provides an overview of recurrent systemic risks in the EU for very large online platforms and search engines.

Risks identified in the report include the spread of illegal content, cyberbullying, grooming and exposure to harmful material such as dangerous viral challenges and adult content.

The report also points to the role of platform design. Interface features and recommender systems can contribute to addiction-like behaviour, increase exposure to harmful content and intensify harmful interactions between users.

Platforms have introduced mitigation measures, including targeted protection tools, content moderation systems and user empowerment features.

The Commission said the report reinforces the role of the DSA as a transparency and accountability tool for understanding how online platforms function and shape risks in society.

The findings will support regulators, civil society, and platforms as the EU continues to monitor DSA implementation and efforts to create a safer online environment for minors.

Why does it matter?

The report shows that the EU platform regulation is moving beyond illegal-content takedown towards a broader assessment of systemic risks created by platform design. For children and young people, recommender systems, interface choices and engagement-driven features can shape exposure to harmful content and unsafe interactions at scale. The DSA reporting process, therefore, provides regulators and civil society with a clearer evidence base for assessing whether very large platforms are doing enough to protect minors.

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Council of the EU backs interim rules on online child abuse detection

The Council of the European Union has adopted its position on interim legislation that would restore a legal basis for online service providers to voluntarily detect, report and remove child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from their platforms.

The proposal aims to restore legal certainty after the previous temporary framework expired on 3 April 2026, while negotiations continue on a permanent EU regulation to combat online child sexual abuse.

The interim regulation introduces a limited derogation from the EU’s electronic communications privacy rules, allowing online platforms to voluntarily detect child sexual abuse material and report suspected offences to law enforcement authorities.

According to the Council, these voluntary measures are essential for identifying children at risk, supporting criminal investigations, prosecuting offenders and reducing the circulation of child sexual abuse material online.

The Council proposes extending the temporary framework until 3 April 2028 to avoid a prolonged legal gap while negotiations continue on the long-term Child Sexual Abuse Regulation.

Irish Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan said restoring providers’ ability to detect online child sexual abuse is essential to protecting victims and bringing offenders to justice. The proposal will now move to the European Parliament for a second reading, where MEPs may approve, amend or reject the Council’s position.

If adopted, the measure would restore the legal basis for voluntary detection activities while policymakers continue negotiations on a permanent framework governing the detection of child sexual abuse material across digital services in the European Union.

Why does it matter?

The proposal addresses a legal gap that emerged after the previous temporary framework expired, creating uncertainty for online platforms that voluntarily detect and report child sexual abuse material. Restoring a clear legal basis would allow providers to continue supporting law enforcement while longer-term legislation is negotiated.

The debate also reflects the EU’s continuing effort to balance child protection with privacy and fundamental rights. While the interim proposal focuses on voluntary detection, negotiations on a permanent framework are expected to continue raising questions about the appropriate balance between online safety, privacy and the responsibilities of digital platforms.

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IWF warns under-16 social media ban is not enough to stop online abuse

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has welcomed the UK government’s decision to restrict social media access for under-16s but argues that the measure alone will not significantly reduce online child sexual exploitation and abuse.

In a new blog, IWF Chief Executive Kerry Smith describes the proposed ban as a major policy milestone while warning that it must be accompanied by broader reforms if it is to deliver lasting improvements in children’s online safety.

According to the IWF, children continue to face a rapidly evolving range of online threats, including grooming, financial sextortion, commercial child sexual abuse and the growing exploitation of young people across digital platforms.

While limiting access to social media may reduce exposure to some risks, the organisation argues that determined offenders will continue to exploit encrypted messaging services, gaming platforms and other online environments if wider safeguards are not introduced.

The charity therefore calls for a more comprehensive regulatory approach centred on safety by design. Its recommendations include stronger safeguards for end-to-end encrypted services, tougher enforcement of the UK’s Online Safety Act, greater accountability for technology companies, and platform design that prevents harmful products and features from reaching users before risks are identified.

The IWF also highlights the need to regulate emerging technologies such as AI chatbots and strengthen device-level protections for children.

Why does it matter?

The IWF’s position reflects a growing international consensus that age restrictions alone cannot address the complex ecosystem of online child exploitation. As abuse increasingly migrates across encrypted services, gaming platforms and AI-powered technologies, policymakers are being encouraged to adopt broader regulatory frameworks that target platform design as well as user access.

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UNESCO report calls for regional approach to digital platform regulation

A UNESCO report has called for a more coordinated regional approach to digital platform regulation in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, warning that existing legal frameworks are struggling to keep pace with the risks posed by online platforms.

The report, ‘The Regulation of Digital Platforms in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean: From Diagnosis to a Roadmap for Action‘, examines Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama and the Dominican Republic. It assesses how national legal frameworks align with UNESCO’s Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms.

The report finds that all seven countries provide constitutional protections for freedom of expression, privacy and safeguards against prior censorship. However, most still lack comprehensive rules for digital intermediaries and robust personal data protection frameworks, with Mexico and Panama identified as partial exceptions.

According to UNESCO, these regulatory gaps have encouraged sector-specific, reactive or punitive measures rather than the shared responsibility, transparency and accountability model promoted in its guidelines. The report also highlights concerns about regulatory independence, noting that some oversight bodies remain subordinate to executive authorities.

Electoral integrity is identified as a major concern. The report says social media platforms, microtargeting and generative AI have outpaced the capacity of many electoral authorities, increasing exposure to disinformation and manipulation. Panama is highlighted as an exception because it has criminalised large-scale manipulation through bots and deepfakes.

The roadmap recommends shifting regulation away from individual content moderation towards oversight of platform systems, algorithms, transparency and risk management. It also calls for moderation practices that better reflect local languages, cultures and indigenous communities.

The report concludes that countries in the region have limited bargaining power when dealing individually with major technology companies. It recommends stronger regional cooperation, including negotiating blocs, and suggests using banking and tax authorities to improve oversight of advertising revenues, monetisation and other platform-related economic activity.

Why does it matter?

The report argues that effective digital platform governance requires regional cooperation rather than fragmented national approaches. For many smaller countries, limited regulatory capacity and bargaining power make it difficult to influence the practices of global technology companies or address cross-border challenges such as disinformation, algorithmic transparency and AI-enabled manipulation.

The recommendations also reflect a broader shift in platform regulation. Instead of focusing primarily on individual pieces of content, UNESCO advocates greater oversight of platform design, algorithms, transparency and systemic risks, aligning with emerging international approaches to digital governance.

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France and WHO call for stronger safeguards for children online

French President Emmanuel Macron and World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus have called for stronger governance of digital environments to protect children’s health and well-being.

In a joint statement, they argued that social media, gaming platforms, AI and other digital services are increasingly shaping children’s physical, mental and social development.

The authors said digital technologies can support education, healthcare access, creativity and social inclusion, especially for children in remote or disadvantaged communities. However, they argued that these benefits depend on how digital services are designed, regulated and governed.

The statement warns that excessive or poorly governed digital exposure can be linked to anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, sedentary behaviour, online exploitation, harmful content and misinformation amplified by recommendation systems.

Macron and Tedros also describe generative AI as a force multiplier for both opportunity and risk. They said AI could support education, accessibility and healthcare, but warned that its long-term effects on children’s emotional development, relationships and well-being remain uncertain.

The authors pointed to growing international momentum behind child online safety measures, including age restrictions, stronger age assurance and safety-by-design standards.

They called on governments, technology companies, researchers, educators and civil society to build healthier digital ecosystems through regulation, transparency, independent research and stronger safeguards for children.

Why does it matter?

The intervention places child online safety within the language of public health. That broadens the debate beyond content moderation and screen-time advice to include platform design, recommendation systems, business models, AI deployment and digital governance. It also reflects growing international pressure for age-appropriate design, stronger age assurance and safety-by-design rules, while leaving open difficult questions about privacy, enforcement and children’s access to beneficial digital services.

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UK ATOC says social media ban is not enough

The UK Alliance Tackling Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse has welcomed the UK government’s plan to ban social media use by children under 16, while warning that the measure alone will not stop online child sexual abuse.

The alliance said age restrictions on mainstream social media platforms could reduce some risks. Still, children may move to less regulated digital spaces, including encrypted messaging services, gaming platforms and other online environments where grooming, sexual extortion and abuse can continue.

UK ATOC called for a broader, system-wide response focused on prevention, stronger platform accountability and safer-by-design digital services. It said governments, regulators, technology companies and online service providers share responsibility for reducing opportunities for abuse before harm occurs.

The alliance proposed a package of technical, legislative and regulatory measures. These include stronger safeguards in end-to-end encrypted environments, robust age-assurance systems, mandatory safer-by-design principles, stronger enforcement under the Online Safety Act and clearer regulation of AI chatbots and companion services.

It also called for device-level nudity detection, upload prevention for known child sexual abuse material and measures to address livestreamed abuse, grooming and sexual extortion.

UK ATOC welcomed the government’s plan to introduce nudity-detection tools on children’s devices, describing it as an important additional safeguard.

The statement reflects a wider concern that age bans may reduce children’s exposure to some mainstream platforms, but cannot replace a comprehensive child-safety framework across the broader digital ecosystem.

Why does it matter?

The UK debate shows the limits of age-based social media bans as a child-safety tool. Online child sexual exploitation and abuse can move across platforms, devices, encrypted services, gaming environments and AI-enabled systems. UK ATOC’s response therefore shifts the focus from access restrictions alone towards prevention, safer design, platform duties and technical safeguards that address how abuse actually happens across digital services.

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EU approves simplified AI rules under Omnibus VII

The Council of the European Union has given its final approval to a regulation that simplifies parts of the EU’s AI framework as part of the broader ‘Omnibus VII’ package to reduce regulatory complexity.

The updated rules revise the implementation timeline for high-risk AI systems, postponing full application until December 2027 for standalone systems and August 2028 for AI systems integrated into regulated products. The regulation also strengthens safeguards by explicitly prohibiting AI-generated non-consensual sexual content, including manipulated intimate imagery and AI-generated child sexual abuse material.

Additional changes aim to reduce administrative burdens and improve legal clarity. Deadlines for establishing AI regulatory sandboxes have been extended to August 2027, transparency obligations for AI-generated content have been streamlined, and the regulation clarifies the division of responsibilities between EU and national authorities while reducing overlap with sector-specific legislation.

The framework also clarifies the division of responsibilities between EU and national authorities and introduces mechanisms to avoid overlap with sector-specific legislation.

EU officials said the reforms will improve legal certainty, support innovation and promote more consistent implementation across member states while preserving safeguards for fundamental rights in the development and deployment of AI systems.

Why does it matter?

The reforms illustrate the EU’s effort to move from adopting AI legislation to making it easier to implement in practice. By extending compliance deadlines, reducing administrative complexity and clarifying supervisory responsibilities, the Union aims to encourage AI innovation without weakening protections for fundamental rights.

The package also reflects a more pragmatic phase of EU AI governance. Rather than rewriting the AI Act, policymakers are refining its implementation to improve legal certainty for developers and users while maintaining strict rules for high-risk and harmful AI applications.

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EU calls for stronger action against cyber violence targeting girls

The Council of the European Union has adopted conclusions calling for stronger action to protect girls and young women from cyber violence, urging member states and the European Commission to reinforce prevention, enforcement, and victim support.

Findings from the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) show that girls and young women are disproportionately affected by cyber violence, including online harassment, cyberstalking, non-consensual sharing of intimate images and sexist hate speech. Interviews with teenagers across the EU also suggest many believe existing prevention efforts are inadequate.

The Council called for improved access to mental health services, legal assistance and educational programmes covering digital consent, online safety and gender-responsive digital literacy. It also recommended providing parents and educators with practical guidance and training to help identify and respond to online abuse.

The Council also stressed the need for stronger enforcement of existing legislation, including the Digital Services Act and AI Act, while urging online platforms to take greater responsibility for user safety. It further called for increased investment in law enforcement resources, cross-border cooperation and research into the causes and impact of cyber violence.

Why does it matter?

The Council’s conclusions recognise cyber violence as both an online safety challenge and a barrier to gender equality and digital inclusion. By combining prevention, victim support, stronger enforcement and platform accountability, the EU is signalling that tackling online abuse requires coordinated action across governments, technology companies and civil society.

The recommendations also reinforce the EU’s broader digital governance agenda. Linking cyber violence to legislation such as the Digital Services Act and AI Act demonstrates how existing regulatory frameworks are increasingly being used to address online harms alongside technological innovation.

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UK CMA consults on Apple App Store steering rules

The UK Competition and Markets Authority has opened a consultation on a proposed conduct requirement that would allow app developers to steer users outside Apple’s App Store to complete digital purchases.

The proposal applies to Apple’s Mobile Platform, which the CMA designated as having Strategic Market Status in October 2025. The consultation is part of the UK’s digital markets competition regime and closes on 28 July 2026.

The CMA said Apple’s App Store is a key gateway for developers distributing native apps in the UK. Its proposal focuses on apps that sell digital goods and services, where developers are generally restricted from directing users to alternative offers or purchases outside Apple’s in-app payment system.

Under the proposed steering conduct requirement, Apple would have to allow developers to communicate with UK users and include redirection mechanisms, such as links or buttons, that lead to external websites for purchases.

Apple could still impose restrictions where they are strictly necessary and objectively justified, including to address malware, fraud, scams, unlawful content or content harmful to children.

The proposal would also regulate how external purchasing options are presented. Apple could use a single interstitial screen to inform users that they are leaving its in-app purchase system, but the screen would need to use neutral language and must not discourage users from completing transactions elsewhere.

The CMA is also proposing that any fee Apple charges on steered transactions must be fair and reasonable. It would also prohibit Apple from discriminating against developers that use redirection mechanisms, including through app review, search ranking, platform functionality or access to interoperability features.

The CMA said effective steering could give developers more control over pricing, billing, refunds and customer support, while giving users more choice and potentially lower prices.

Why does it matter?

The consultation shows the UK’s digital markets regime moving from platform designation to targeted behavioural rules. If adopted, the requirement could weaken Apple’s control over in-app transactions for digital goods and services in the UK and give developers more room to offer alternative payment channels. It also tests how the CMA will balance competition, consumer choice, security, privacy and platform investment under the new Strategic Market Status framework.

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