European lawmakers are considering a modification to the European Data Protection Regulation which would ultimately kick a majority of teenage users off of social media. If passed, the regulation would require teens under the age of 16 to get parental consent in order to participate on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other social media websites. The regulation is currently set at age 13.
Members from various online safety organizations around the world are concerned about the impact the regulation would have on European youths. “I worry about the implications that this policy could have on our ‘global village,’ where we need youth to be involved in cross-border conversations to solve some the world’s most critical challenges including global terrorism and climate change, Larry Magid, CEO of ConnectSafely.org, writes on Huffington Post. “I worry that it could actually endanger and disenfranchise young people at the very time when we should be doubling down on their engagement in social media and world events,” he added.