Estonia says EU should force social media platforms to change, not ban children

Estonia is the only European Union country opposing plans to restrict children’s access to social media, arguing that the platforms themselves should change. The government’s position comes as the bloc considers whether to set the minimum age at 13 or 15.

Estonian Justice and Digital Affairs Minister Liisa-Ly Pakosta said responsibility for making major platforms safer for minors should rest primarily with the technology companies. “Because children are members of the information society, it is actually the platforms that should change,” she said in a video interview.

Pakosta said platform design should reflect the best interests and rights of children. In her view, that approach would benefit society as a whole rather than simply preventing children from using social networks.

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Because children are members of the information society, it is actually the platforms that should change.

She pointed to the EU’s Digital Services Act as one tool the bloc could use to require changes. Recommendations issued to platforms under the law on protecting children online should become legally binding, she said.

The EU has already used the legislation to investigate Facebook and Instagram, which are owned by Meta, as well as TikTok. The platforms have been asked to change what authorities described as their “addictive” design.

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When designing platforms, the best interests and rights of the child should guide the process, and that would benefit society as a whole.