Polish parliamentary committees discussed urgent regulations to restrict children’s access to social media platforms due to health and safety concerns.
Experts Highlight Multiple Risks
At the beginning of the session, Monika Rosa, head of the parliamentary committee for children and youth, listed the dangers children face on social media: addictions, sleep problems, mental health issues, reduced concentration, sexual harm, violence, hatred, pressure for an ideal image, and bullying. She emphasized that based on all available reports and data, a serious debate must begin on implementing restrictions for the youngest.
Questions About Regulatory Approach
Committee members raised questions about the best regulatory approach: whether to follow models from Australia, France, and Denmark, build a national system, or adopt a European framework. They discussed setting a digital maturity threshold and determining the appropriate age limit – 13, 14, or 15 years old. The consensus was that platforms will not regulate themselves.
Government and Stakeholder Participation
Thursday’s session included representatives from ministries of digitization, health, and education, as well as the Office of the Ombudsman for Children Rights and NASK. Parliamentarians spoke, and representatives from NGOs participated, including the Foundation We Give Children Strength, Institute of Digital Citizenship, Panoptykon Foundation, UNAWEZA Foundation, and numerous other organizations.
Digital Identity Verification Solution
Michał Gramatyka, Deputy Minister of Digitization, announced that by the end of 2026, the mObywatel application will be adapted to meet the requirements of eIDAS 2.0 regulation and expanded with the European Digital Identity Wallet (e-ID). This tool will enable user verification during platform login using attributes like “I am over 16 years old” without sharing other personal data, potentially useful for implementing age restrictions.
Research Findings on Children’s Internet Use
During the discussions, attention was drawn to numerous studies showing that youngest children spend long hours online, leading to negative consequences including mental health issues. The Institute of Digital Citizenship’s “Internet Children” report revealed that over half of children aged 7-12 actively use social platforms and messengers intended for ages 13 and up, while among the most frequently visited domains by 7-14 year olds are pornography sites. A More in Common Foundation study found that 87% of parents express a need for support in ensuring children’s internet safety.
Minister Calls for Action
Minister of Education Barbara Nowacka stated that action must be taken, as the state cannot remain inactive or rely solely on information or declarations. This meets parental expectations, social demands, and likely political expectations as well. She noted that the Civic Parliamentary Coalition will present a bill on this matter by the end of February, with a team preparing a preliminary proposal for broad discussion. Nowacka also emphasized the importance of digital hygiene and addiction prevention through the newly implemented health education subject.
Political Consensus for Change
Politicians from various parties unanimously emphasized the need for legal changes regarding children’s presence on social media. MP Maria Kurowska from PiS called for accelerating work on new legislation, noting that every day or week of delay exposes more children to harmful content affecting their mental health. Former Minister of Digitization Janusz Cieszyński also urged faster action and encouraged experimenting with solutions without being afraid to be creative.
Platform Representative’s Perspective
Ksenia Nowicka, representing Meta, identified three main issues in designing legislation for age restrictions: the scope of regulations (whether limited to social platforms or extended to streaming, gaming, and AI-chatbot platforms), age verification methods, and the role of parents. She cited the Australian example where regulations targeting only major platforms caused children to migrate to less popular services, and advocated for centralized age verification at the device or operating system level.