Portugal is planning a major measure that could change the way young people use social media. Is this a necessary step to protect the mental health and development of adolescents?
Following the examples of Australia and France, Portugal has introduced a bill in parliament that would ban access to social media for individuals under the age of 16. The law aims to protect adolescents from the harmful effects of social media by setting clear limits on the use of these platforms.
The law stipulates that adolescents between the ages of 13 and 16 will only be able to access social networks with parental consent. The measure also requires platforms to implement an age verification system, ensuring that parents have control over their children’s online activities.
The parliamentarians supporting the bill point out that recent scientific literature shows that early use of social media can have negative consequences for children’s social and cognitive development. This is a growing concern, making this law necessary to protect young people.
The debate over restricting access to social media for young people has intensified in Europe, especially after Australia’s decision in December to ban these platforms for those under 16. This has prompted other countries, such as France, to adopt similar laws, setting a new precedent in social media policy.
France, which passed a law banning social media for individuals under 15, is another example of how European countries are trying to protect young people from the potential dangers of the internet. This trend shows a strong commitment to addressing the challenges of the digital age.
Countries such as Denmark, Greece and Spain are also calling for a similar ban across the European Union. This shows that concern about the impact of social media is a continent-wide issue, requiring a common approach to protecting young people.
With this bill, Portugal is taking a bold step towards protecting adolescents. Will this measure help preserve the mental health of young people? Time will tell if this law will have the desired effect on Portuguese society.
