PSD proposes restrictions on children’s access to social media up to 16 years old

The PSD delivered this Monday, February 2nd, to parliament, a project to block free access to social networks and other platforms for children up to the age of 16, The consent of their parents or legal representatives is now required.

This diploma, which aims to establish “measures to protect children in digital environments”, is signed by the president of the PSD Parliamentary Group, Hugo Soares, and the social-democratic deputy Paulo Marcelo.

Regarding access to social networks and other platforms, the law in force establishes a limit of 13 years for the consent of minors. However, the PSD points out that “the evolution not only of digital technology, but also of its use by minors, has been exponential”.

The PSD also points out that “recent scientific evidence has shown that the early use of these resources, before the age of 16, can compromise the normal social and cognitive development of children, proving to be increasingly addictive and harmful”.

“In this sense, it is considered appropriate to raise the minimum age of consent for children in matters of data protection, harmonizing the limit with what is established in the vast majority of European Union countries, as well as with what is required in the national legal system for minors in relation to other activities or conduct”, reads the explanatory memorandum of the project.

The solution proposed by the PSD is as follows: “The minimum digital age for autonomous access to social media platforms, video sharing services and open communication services is set at 16 years; children aged 13 or over can only access with (…) express and verified parental consent”.

In the diploma now released by the social democratic bench, it is expected that proof of digital minimum age will be carried out through the Digital Mobile Key system“through simple or reinforced authentication, as provided for in the technical reference”.

Regarding the way in which parental consent is effective, the project specifies that it will be “provided through a mechanism for verifying the identity of the holder(s) of the child’s parental responsibilities, through the Digital Mobile Key system”.

The social democratic group emphasizes that, with this project, “the aim is not to ban or prohibit children’s access to social networks and other digital platforms”, but “to promote that they dominate the digital environment instead of being dominated by it, reducing the risks of addiction, exposure to harmful content and illicit grooming”.