BRUSSELS, May 12 \u2014 The European Union is working on new rules \u200cto protect children from the addictive designs of social media such as TikTok, Meta and X, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said today.<\/p>\n
\u201cSleep deprivation, depression, \u200canxiety, self-harm, addictive behaviour, cyberbullying, grooming, exploitation, suicide. Risks are multiplying fast,\u201d von der Leyen said in a speech in Copenhagen.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese risks are the reality of the digital world. They are not accidental. They are the result of business models that treat our children\u2019s attention as a commodity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Von der Leyen said the Commission would specifically target \u201caddictive and harmful design practices\u201d in its Digital Fairness Act (DFA), due to be proposed towards the end of the year.<\/p>\n
The DFA would also set strict limits on the use \u200cof artificial intelligence in social media, she said, while she advocated for a \u2060minimum age for social media access.<\/p>\n
Von \u2060der Leyen said the EU must consider setting \u2060a minimum age for access to \u2060social media, \u2060adding that the Commission might make a proposal this summer on the issue following recommendations from a panel of experts.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe question is not whether young \u2060people should have access to social media, the question is whether social media should have access to young people,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The new regulation will strengthen and expand the Digital Services Act (DSA) which requires large platforms to do more to tackle illegal and harmful content, she said.<\/p>\n
Under these rules, the \u2060Commission is already investigating TikTok, X and Meta Platforms\u2019 Instagram and Facebook.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are taking action against TikTok and its addictive design, endless scrolling, \u2060autoplay and push notifications. The same applies to Meta, because we believe Instagram and \u2060Facebook are \u2060failing to enforce their own minimum age of 13,\u201d Von der Leyen said.<\/p>\n
The Commission has also started proceedings against X for the use of its Grok artificial intelligence \u200ctool in creating sexual images of women and children.<\/p>\n
Spokespeople at the three companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment. \u2014 Reuters<\/p>\n
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