Argentina debates regulating minors' social media use, following global trends

Argentina's national Congress is beginning to debate legislative proposals aimed at regulating minors' social media usage, mirroring global efforts initiated by Australia and adopted by several European nations.

The proposed measures, presented in the Chamber of Deputies, seek to establish a legal framework to protect the physical and mental well-being of children and adolescents. Lawmakers are addressing what they term a "regulatory vacuum" that allows algorithms and business models to capture young users' attention and data. The initiatives focus on various aspects, including the privacy of minors' profiles, the types of content they are exposed to, and a potential ban on online gambling advertisements.

One significant point of contention among the proposals is the minimum age for social media access. A project co-signed by several deputies from Unión por la Patria suggests the most restrictive approach, prohibiting accounts for children under 14, even with parental consent. For those aged 14 to 16, parental authorization and mandatory linking to a responsible adult's profile would be required. Users aged 16 and above could register with enhanced protection settings.

Another proposal, led by María Inés Zigarán and members of the Provincias Unidas bloc, sets the access barrier at 13 years for "high-risk services." This plan requires explicit parental consent for adolescents aged 13 to 16, after which they could consent to the processing of their personal data based on their "progressive autonomy."

Esteban Paulón, also from the Provincias Unidas bloc, advocates for a different approach, focusing on ensuring adolescents can navigate the digital world appropriately for their development. "I do not agree with the prohibition, I do not believe in it," Paulón stated. "What we must aim for is that children can use social media better, that parents and schools get involved. And we need to move forward as soon as possible because it is out of control."

All initiatives agree on the need for improved age verification mechanisms during registration, moving beyond self-declaration to more reliable methods like biometrics or system-based verification.

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I do not agree with the prohibition, I do not believe in it. What we must aim for is that children can use social media better, that parents and schools get involved. And we need to move forward as soon as possible because it is out of control.