While voluntary, the guidelines do not guarantee compliance, and discussions continue on balancing privacy with effective age verification.

The EU's initiative aims to set the digital age of adulthood at 15, requiring parental consent for minors under this age to access platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

Concerns about social media algorithms contributing to behavioral addictions in children have fueled the push for stricter online safety measures.

The European Commission has introduced new guidelines and a prototype age-verification app aimed at protecting minors online, as part of the implementation of the EU's Digital Services Act.

Feedback from stakeholders shows broad support for harmonized age assurance solutions that prioritize privacy and employ various verification methods.

French President Emmanuel Macron has threatened to ban social media for children under 15 if a European-wide solution is not implemented soon, highlighting the urgency of the matter.

The French digital authority, Arcom, supports these measures, aligning with its recommendations to verify user ages effectively.

This initiative addresses growing concerns about social media's impact on children's mental health and aims to establish consistent protections across the EU.

Several EU countries are pushing for a uniform age limit for social media access, inspired by Australia's policy of restricting access to users aged 16 and older.

This system requires users to prove they are over 18 to access restricted content, while ensuring their personal information remains private and no individual tracking occurs.

Initially, the app will be tested in Denmark, France, Spain, Greece, and Italy, with plans to expand to Germany by the end of 2026.

France has been a leading advocate for this initiative, with Digital Minister Clara Chappaz emphasizing the need for a unified European age verification system for social networks.