Parliament has&nbsp;called for the introduction of a minimum age limit of 16&nbsp;for access to social media, and has&nbsp;adopted recommendations&nbsp;on better protecting the victims of online harassment and bullying, and strengthening platform accountability. Background The&nbsp;Digital Services Act&nbsp;(DSA) introduced measures to protect minors online, notably an obligation for platforms to ensure high levels of privacy, safety and security for minors online.

The Commission published&nbsp;guidelines on the protection of minors&nbsp;in July 2025. An&nbsp;EU expert panel&nbsp;is currently reviewing existing protection measures and developing recommendations on child safety online, including on age limits and age assurance, and is expected to publish its final results before the summer of 2026.

The rights of the child are part of human rights: rights that the EU and its Member States must respect, protect and fulfil. The Treaty on European Union establishes the objective for the EU to promote protection of the rights of the child. The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU guarantees the protection of the rights of the child by the EU institutions and by EU countries when they implement EU law. Over the years the European Parliament has been instrumental in pushing children's rights to the core of European policies, particularly through its Intergroup on Children's Rights

fight against child sex crimes (T)

rights of the child (T)

children's rights (T)

international child abduction (T)

Children’s rights

Combating online child sexual abuse: extracts from the debate (05/07) and from the vote

EP Plenary session - Use of technologies for the processing of data for the purpose of combating online child sexual abuse

Use of technologies for the processing of data to combating online child sexual abuse: MEPs debate

Use of technologies for the processing of data to combating online child sexual abuse: opening statements by Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), rapporteur, Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs and by Christine ANDERSON (ID, DE)

Infoclip: Protection of minors from harmful video content

Children's Rights - Oral question to Commission: closing statement by Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission

Children's Rights - Oral question to Commission: MEPs debate

EP Plenary session - Children's Right

Children's Rights - Oral question to Commission: opening statements by Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D, ES), Author and by Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission

Voting Session

Commission statement - Protecting children’s safety and mental health from the risks posed by social media – our duty to act now: MEPs debate and reply by Glenn MICALLEF, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport

EP Plenary Session - Protecting children’s safety and mental health from the risks posed by social media – our duty to act now

Debate: Protecting children from risks of social media

Commission statement - Protecting children’s safety and mental health from the risks posed by social media – our duty to act now: one round of political group speakers

Commission statement - Protecting children’s safety and mental health from the risks posed by social media – our duty to act now: opening statement by Glenn MICALLEF, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport

Protecting children’s safety and mental health from the risks posed by social media: extracts from the debate

International Women’s Day: Point of order and closing of the ceremony

International Women’s Day Celebration: one round of political group speakers

International Women’s Day: speech by Jackie FOX, Campaigner for Coco's Law

International Women’s Day: Video-Clip

International Women’s Day: arrival in the hemicycle and introduction by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

International Women's Day 2026: extracts from the meeting between Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Jackie FOX, "Coco's Law" campaigner and extracts from the address to the plenary

Protection of minors online: MEPs debate (part 3)

Protection of minors online: opening statements by Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DA), Rapporteur, Henna VIRKKUNEN Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Ivaylo VALCHEV (ECR, BG), CULT Committee

Protection of minors online: MEPs debate (part 2)

Protection of minors online: closing statements by Michael MCGRATH, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection, and Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DK), Rapporteur

Protection of minors online: MEPs debate (part 1)

Infoclip: online protection of minors and young people

Combating the sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material : Closing statements by Magnus BRUNNER, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration and Jeroen LENAERS (EPP, NL), Rapporteur

Combating the sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material: MEPs debate (part 2)

Combating the sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material: MEPs debate (part 1)

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