Ban on Social Media for Children Under 16: What is GERB-SDS Proposing?

A new initiative is being discussed in the political circles of Bulgaria, aimed at limiting minors' access to popular platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. The proposal, supported by GERB-SDS, aims to protect children from the negative effects of digital addiction and the algorithms of tech giants.

The main points of the proposal include:

• Total Ban: Children under 16 years of age are not to have access to social media.
• Night Curfew: Youths between 16 and 18 years old may not use platforms between 23:00 and 06:00.
• Digital Verification: Mandatory age verification via a digital wallet.
• Sanctions: Heavy financial penalties for platforms that do not comply with the new rules.

The initiative is sparking serious discussions among experts regarding the effectiveness and boundaries of such bans. Communications specialists emphasize that social media design is intentionally created to be addictive, using infinite scrolling and automatic content playback to retain user attention.

Experts warn that for children, the risk is higher due to underdeveloped critical thinking, which makes them vulnerable to manipulative algorithms, dangerous internet challenges, and even access to illegal products through anonymous channels. At the same time, it is emphasized that tech companies focus on time spent on the platform rather than the quality of the content being consumed.

While the initiative aims for protection, the question is raised whether it will lead to mass surveillance or the creation of unenforceable bans that are difficult to implement in practice without serious technical and legal challenges.