Impatient with Brussels, European capitals forge ahead with social media bans

Key Points:

• Six weeks after the EU proposed the Kids Act to restrict social media access for under-13s and under-15s, several European countries like Greece, Italy, Denmark, Portugal, Cyprus, Austria, and Germany are advancing their own stricter national laws ahead of EU-wide legislation.
• National governments are acting urgently to protect children's mental health, with varying age thresholds between 13 and 16, reflecting differing priorities and timelines that could lead to fragmented rules across the EU.
• The European Commission faces a challenge in balancing enforcement of a unified EU law with the proliferation of national measures, needing to assess compatibility and potentially repeal national laws once the Kids Act is finalized and implemented, likely by 2028.
• While EU capitals prefer a harmonized approach to avoid market fragmentation and align enforcement with the Digital Services Act, delays in EU legislation have prompted countries to take immediate action, signaling strong political will to regulate Big Tech more strictly.
• The ongoing debate underscores growing public concern over social media's impact on youth mental health and the increasing pressure on tech giants like Meta and TikTok to assume responsibility through legislative measures.