In a written statement to Brussels Morning Newspaper, MEP Laura Ballarín called for tougher EU enforcement to safeguard minors from harmful online content and addictive design features. She urged Big Tech companies to take full responsibility for their impact on children and endorsed establishing a harmonised digital age range between 13 and 16 across member states.
Laura Ballarín is a Spanish Member of the European Parliament (S&D) actively engaged in digital legislation and child protection policy. Her work focuses on ensuring accountability for online platforms and promoting ethical standards in technology regulation across the EU.
Flexible Digital Age Range for Online Access
Responding to Brussels Morning newspaper’s question on the appropriate minimum digital age for access to social networks, Ballarín explained that
“the debate should not focus narrowly on identifying a single and rigid age, but rather on establishing a clear minimum digital age range between 13 and 16, reflecting the different sensibilities, cultures, and legal traditions across Europe.”
She emphasised that
“below this threshold, we must ensure that children are effectively protected.”
According to the MEP,
“the era in which social media and digital platforms could freely exploit children for economic profit is over.”
To further highlight her views on digital safety and the responsibility of technology companies, Ms. Ballarín also shared a related message on social media, reinforcing her stance on protecting children in the digital age.
Holding Big Tech Accountable for Addictive Design
When asked about the responsibility of platforms for designing addictive online environments, the MEP stated that
“in every possible respect, responsibility lies with the platforms themselves.”
She criticised
“features such as infinite scroll, algorithmic amplification, and targeted advertising”
that are
“intentionally used to foster addiction, particularly among young users.”
Ballarín highlighted that while the Digital Services Act has been a landmark step,
“legislation alone is not enough—we now need real and decisive enforcement.”
She urged authorities to “apply effective and dissuasive sanctions under the DSA” and ensure that penalties are
“strong enough to force companies to genuinely change their business models rather than treating fines as a cost of doing business.”
Looking ahead, the MEP identified the upcoming Digital Fairness Act as a
“crucial opportunity to close remaining gaps, strengthen accountability for addictive design practices, and ensure truly comprehensive and enforceable protection for children online across the European Union.”
Shared Responsibility Beyond Families
In response to a question about the role of families, schools, and governments, Ballarín underscored that
“families are often the first to detect the harmful effects of uncontrolled social media use on minors,”
but emphasised that
“this is not a challenge that families can address on their own. It is a broader societal issue that requires the involvement of all actors.”
She outlined a coordinated approach where
“lawmakers must set clear and enforceable rules; schools have a key role to play in promoting digital literacy, critical thinking, and healthy digital habits; and tech companies must take responsibility for the products they design and profit from.”
Building Digital Awareness and Resilience
The MEP also warned against
“the strong social pressure placed on families to provide smartphones and access to social media to children as young as 9 to 11 years old.”
She concluded that children and teenagers themselves must be empowered to “develop autonomy, resilience, and responsible online behaviour” through awareness and education initiatives across Europe.
