In her 2025 State of the Union address, President von der Leyen acknowledged the benefits digital technologies, including social media, offer to minors – alongside with risks, such as cyberbullying, adult content, self-harm promotion, and addictive algorithms.
To better protect and empower minors online, the President announced that she would commission a panel of specialists to advise on the best approach for Europe on child safety online and potential age restrictions for social media. The panel brings together specialists from various fields, including health, neuroscience, psychology, computer science, child rights, and digital literacy, from across the EU and is co-chaired by ESCAP President Jörg M. Fegert and Professor Maria Melchior.
The Special Panel is tasked to explore key issues for the online safety of children, such as a harmonised EU age limit for social media across the EU, tailored protections based on age and risk, and educational measures to promote responsible social media use. By summer 2026, it will deliver its recommendations to guide potential further action at EU level.
At its first meeting on 5 March 2026, the Special Panel is assessing current evidence on the risks and benefits from children’s use of social media and other online activities and discusses existing approaches to online safety from the EU as well as in third countries.
Professor Jörg M. Fegert: "I feel honoured to have been appointed as the Co-Chair of the Special Panel on child safety online and potential age restrictions for social media. From a child and adolescent psychiatry perspective, it is essential to consider the developmental dimension and to pay particular attention to vulnerable groups. Moreover, it is important to me that the voices of young people are meaningfully included - recognizing not only their experiences and perspectives, but also their right to active and equitable digital participation. I look forward to working with my Co-Chair, Professor Maria Melchior, as well as the panel of experts on this highly relevant topic."
EU press release
Special panel on child safety online
