Guidelines for the safety, protection and privacy of minors on the internet and social media will be presented within 2025, as the Commission states in its response to a question from ND MEP, Dimitris Tsiodras.

In particular, as the responsible Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen notes, the Commission takes very seriously the impact of the use of social media and excessive screen time on the mental health of young people and has already taken action by launching official investigation procedures against major platforms and social media sites such as TikTok, Facebook and Instagram over suggestions that their algorithms may be fueling “behavioral addictions” in children.

It also underlines that the Commission is “constantly monitoring the compliance of all very large platforms and search engines with the act on digital services and may initiate new investigations, if necessary”.

Mr. Tsiodras, in his question, pointed out that “according to a recent survey by the World Health Organization, 11% of teenagers showed signs of problematic behavior on social media, as they find it difficult to control their use. Scientific research has also linked the prolonged and excessive use of social media with sleep disorders and, therefore, with consequences for the mental and physical development of children, but also with phenomena of depression, bullying and increased anxiety. It is possible that digital platforms and social media are intended to strengthen children’s addiction through their design, operation or even use”.

He had asked the European Commission what actions it would take to address children’s addiction to social media, as well as the provision of up-to-date digital literacy programs.

“This response shows the importance of timely interventions at the national level, such as that of the Greek government, which recently presented the National Strategy for the Protection of Minors from Internet Addiction”, is stated in the announcement of Mr. Tsiodra.